To the anonymous guest : Thank you for reviewing. I fixed my writing style based on your review on this chapter, I hope this is good enough for you.
This is going to be a short chapter (4000 words short), so without further a due... Chapter 6 of Drifted.
"Flynn,
The operation went horribly wrong. Now, there's a change to the plan. Tell the customer; changing the meeting point to Olive's Rock, don't ask why. Also, tell him; bring friends, package extraction might be a hot one.
Seff"
A message was written on a small piece of paper. Scrolled up and tied with a short piece of red string, it was tied on one of the leg of a pigeon.
"Go!" said a young man, sending the fowl away. The bird flew out of the window.
He then dip his pen in a small bottle of ink and grabbed another small piece of paper, only to proceed with writing another message.
"Dear Blen,
About that favor you owed me, I think it's time to-"
The young man paused his writing. He shift his attention towards the door where a guard had just enter the room.
"The queen requested your presence." Said the guard with a serious tone.
"Just let me finish this, please." Answered Seffiroth.
"Immediately." Added the guard. He then proceed with exiting the room.
Seffiroth smiled sarcastically. The fact that she sent a guard to call him has made it clear for the young man. He'll either get arrested or executed, that was his the scenario he played over and over in his mind.
Nevertheless, he calmly finishes his short but clear message, tied it to the second pigeon, and sent it away.
He sent two messages, using two different homing pigeons. One, headed to the Kingdom of Corona, where one of his colleague resides. The other, was coursed for the main castle of the Southern Isles, where one of his friend settled. Both messages were fairly important yet very different in purpose.
Seffiroth looked at the window. With the fresh early morning air that came through his window, he sees the aftermath of last night's incident.
He took a deep breath in nervousness and said to himself...
"Right, time to see the queen."
It's been roughly one and a half hours since the sun rises. The kingdom, still recovering from the raid, haven't heard anything regarding the recent tragedy bestowed upon their princess. So far, only Queen Elsa, Kristoff, Olaf, and a few other guards knew about what happened, and continuously worrying after her welfare.
The queen had initiate an emergency meeting. Arendelle, being a peaceful kingdom before, hardly possess any remarkable military official. It was mostly the head of security of Arendelle advising the queen not to trust Seffiroth and squeeze him of any information he may possessed. The queen has never been confronted with such hard decisions. Nevertheless, she must do the right thing, it's just the matter of deciding whether to do what's right in her heart or to the safety of her sister.
Outside the room, Seffiroth stands with agitation, although he didn't let it shows.
He opened the door with silence on his mouth. All eyes quickly turn towards the young man. Ignoring all the attention he received, he walked to the center of the room and stop right in front of the queen.
"Well, do what you have to do." He said, with the utmost certainty that she's going to order one of the guard to bind him and have him arrested.
On the contrary to what he believe will happen, the queen did nothing. Instead, she just stare in confusion. She shrugged it off, her face turned serious.
"I need your help." She said.
"What?" he retorted quickly to what the queen said, feeling surprised no less.
"You're the only one that can help us right now, help my sister, help me, please." She frowned, whilst holding her fist anxiously. "I-I don't know what to do..." she added as tears started to rain down her cheeks.
Seffiroth sees as she pleaded to him. Kristoff, looking equally worried for the princess, he adds...
"Please, Anna and the others are depending on you."
"Others?" Asked Seffiroth in a confused tone.
"Princess Anna wasn't the only one taken last night. So far, there are 12 others reported missing. Witnesses saw some of them are being taken back to their ship." Explained one of the official.
This was new, at least to Seffiroth's ears and he was surprised to hear about it. To him, this news changes the game. Unknown to all except the young man himself, the clock started ticking, and it's counting down.
He didn't see much option in his path. He do believes that the best thing he can do is to help the queen. Why shouldn't he? As far he's concerned, he is still indebted to the queen for saving his life, and lying to her, also having her kingdom raided, not to mention having her sister kidnapped. This young man really knows how to ruin someone, doesn't he? That may be true, his sense of responsibility will be damned to let him not the queen now.
It's just so happen that his interest goes alongside the queen's. They have the stone now, and that is one thing he cannot allow.
So, with a firm voice, he said.
"I will."
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"I have no idea who these people are. All I do know is that they came out of nowhere roughly 4 months ago, when I received the information about that stone. I was informed that they have the stone. I decided to stage an operation to take it from them. Unfortunately, it went wrong as you may all know."
"That's it?" asked Kristoff with temper. "Surely, you must know more." He followed, showing his sign of desperation.
"Kristoff!" Scolded Queen Elsa.
"But-"
"I know, I'm worried too. But getting angry won't solve anything." The queen turned to Seffiroth once again. "Is that everything?" asked the queen in a much calmer manner.
"No." Seffiroth retorted firmly as he then faced Kristoff and said, "I'm sorry."
Kristoff acknowledged his apology. He sought to calm himself down and sit on his chair.
He turned his face back to the queen.
"I don't know about their plan, but at the very least I can tell you where they're headed."
Elsa's face turns bright as she heard that strip of hope. She wasn't the only one, Kristoff, Olaf, and other officials including Kai who just so happen to pass the room smiled a bit. Still in excitement due to hearing the good news, Queen Elsa immediately asked our protagonist.
"Where?!"
"That place is..." answered Seffiroth in a doubtful tone.
The queen can sense something from the young man as he was about to answer her question. He's hiding something again, a sight she well recognized although she was oblivious for it at first. She was about to ask him, until Seffiroth himself interrupt her.
"That place. You know what? Never mind about that place, we can intercept them here." He said pointing at a spot on the map.
"He obviously hiding something." Elsa thought in her mind.
Anyway, the young man continued.
"The port of Hackwald, the Southern Isles. I'm pretty sure we can catch them there as they made port and resupply." Explained Seffiroth.
"Wait!" shout one of the formally dressed gentlemen standing on the opposite side of Seffiroth. "How do you know all this? How are you so sure about them making port in one of the most secluded port in the Southern Isles?"
The room fell into silence once again.
"This could be their plot for all we know, I mean, one of their prince attempt to take your life, your majesty." whilst head of security turned towards the queen, "milady, you can't expect me to trust him after what happened to Arendelle. As the head of security, I strongly advise asking for his help. He-"
"ENOUGH!" shout Elsa. Her roar echoed in the room.
Seffiroth can clearly see ice beneath her, growing, freezing the floor around where she stands. He's lucky she was able to control her power, otherwise her ice most certainly spreads and end up freezing him. The young man looked at the queen's face, as she tries her best to supress her anger.
In a much calmer state she said...
"Tell me, Mr. Fowell, what other choice do we have?"
Mr. Fowell, the head of security, was unable to answer her question. He simply lower his head and took a step back.
Seffiroth in the other hand, did the exact opposite.
"If I may, your majesty, I can understand his reason not to trust me. I'm not to be trusted, I get that." He paused then look straight at the kingdom's official.
"You're asking me how I know all this." He fixed a calm but serious gaze to Mr. Fowell, "my answer is; I don't know. But taking to consideration that they will need to resupply midway through their journey whilst trying to smuggle two ships filled with dozens of armed men along with hostages in which one of them is a princess from another kingdom pass through an area on which the Southern Isles navy conduct a strict patrol against their pirates infestation problem, I would say the best option for them would be the most secluded port in that entire area, Hackwald."
The room fell into a silence. However, this time, it was cause by the sense of awe to the young man's detailed explanation. Despite all that blabbering he commited, he was far from finish.
"But even the most secluded port would be guarded, so they'll need a cover. Tradeship would be the most generic cover for smuggler, so as far as I can tell, we'll be looking at two different vessel that arrive at roughly the same time." Now he's finish, and he ends that long explanation with a long deep breathe.
"I hope that clears most of your question, milord." He adds.
The room was, notably, still in awe. That is until the queen shook her head, trying to wake herself from that sense of astonishment.
She turns to one of the guard and without a moment of delay she gave out an order.
"Prepare our fastest ship."
"Yes, your manjesty." Said the guard, acknowledging her order.
'Well, at least she's convinced.' Seffiroth thought.
Feeling certain he's safe from being arrested, he secretly threw away the piece of wire he keeps in his pocket. That wire will most definitely Seffiroth's backup plan, assuming he's going to be arrested. He's plan generally involves knocking out the guard and unlocking whatever binding both of his hand. That plan is not going to have much use now, so he get rid of it, whilst hoping no one saw that. Well, to be fair, if anyone had saw him, they wouldn't care much anyway.
With that, come another question. Why would he need that plan? The answer is simple. No matter what the situation may be, he will, with all his power, undo his mistakes. In other words, rescue the princess and retrieve the enchanted gemstone.
He's just grateful he didn't have to use that plan.
As soon as the queen gave the order, a ship was rushed into sailing condition. Luckily, one ship remain undamaged during the night raid. The ship was fairly small, a brig, enough sail to cruise at a relatively high speed. In conclusion, the perfect ship to chase them with.
A group was formed, tasked with rescuing Princess Anna. It was consist of a few guards, the ship's crew, Kristoff along with his reindeer, Sven, Olaf the snowman, Seffiroth as a guide, and the queen herself.
All is well, except for the part where Seffiroth found out the queen will joined him personally. Seffiroth argued that it will be dangerous, and it would be better if she just stay here and take care of her kingdom instead. Elsa's argument however, stands in a way that it was her responsibility as Anna's older sister to rescue her, and she is confident enough that the kingdom would be alright being left under the care of the archbishop of Arendelle.
They argue for quite some time and none of them could intervene, maybe Anna could do something if she was there. Eventually, Seffiroth learned that it was useless to argue with a queen who has made up her mind. So he eventually subdue to her wish.
Having done this before, Seffiroth knew how dangerous this can become. However, since Queen Elsa insisted on tagging along, he'll have to deal with her wellbeing as well. No doubt that the young man thought of the queen as a burden, but who knew, her ice power might come in handy.
Just before the sun is at its highest, the ship was ready to set sail. The rescue group walked through the aftermath of last night's raid. It was horrible, especially for the queen. The people at least held on, taking care of the wounded, civilian or not.
"Watch your step, your majesty." Warned the first mate of the ship as he help the queen board the ship. Looking back, this was Queen Elsa's first time going someplace far. Ever since she was crowned queen, she was too busy mending the damage caused by her own winter which pretty much scratch all the plan for any visit outside Arendelle. Even before her coronation, she was kept inside the castle being hidden from the world due to her power.
Elsa felt the excitement of visiting new places. It's just unfortunate it was under such circumstances.
As the ship leave the harbor, people gather on the edge. They waved, wishing their queen good luck and safe return. Elsa and Olaf waved back, whilst Seffiroth quietly stood on the stern of the ship just behind the wheel and watches the two of them. He can see Elsa's face, clearly hiding her worried look under that smile she shows to her people. It was his plus for having a skill to read people's faces. However this time, he'd rather see her smiling face and nothing else.
It will not be a long trip, 5 to 6 days the captain predict. Hopefully, they won't run into any trouble like pirates or storm.
"Setting course!" goes the ship's first mate as she enter the open seas. To the limitless horizon they go.
The ship had enter the fouth night on its journey to Southern Isles port of Hackwald.
The sea was calmer than usual, which was always a good thing. It means that the crew could sleep quite easily, especially Kristoff. As he was a mountain person, he doesn't sit too well with the sea.
The ship was silent. All the crew did sleep soundlessly. Only the observer and an officer holding the wheel stayed awake, them and a certain young man with a sword strap to his waist.
It was always Seffiroth's habit to write on journal at this sort of situation. Unfortunately, his journal is in the satchel and the satchel was taken from him. So, he'll just switch to his second habit he'd like to do in the night, Stargazing. The night sky over the sea seems supportive enough as there were hardly any cloud present. He simply sat down by the stern and looked up. Just like that is enough to lose him for hours.
He was fixated. With no one to disturb him, he felt like he can do this until the sun show its head. If no one didn't disturb him.
"Fancy seeing you here tonight."
Seffiroth turned his head, only to find a beautiful white blonde that is Queen Elsa.
"Ah, yes, umm... I can't sleep."
"I see." She said as she accept his excuse. "Nor am I." She walked closer to the stern. "Mind if I joined you?"
"I wouldn't mind having company." He answered.
Having heard that, Elsa stood next to the young man. Both were looking up to the sky, refusing to face each other. This has created yet another silence, which apparently became too much for Seff as he clears his thought and sought to start a conversation.
"Hey, look. I'm sorry." He said in a small voice.
Well it had to start somewhere.
"Hmm?" she retorts, trying to make him repeat his sentence.
"Well, I never really formerly apologized to you about what had happened. So, I'm sorry... for everything." Clarify the young man.
Hearing that, the queen can only smile.
"Well, at least you have the guts to apologize."
That made Seffiroth chuckled a bit, before the queen adds...
"I'm also sorry, for pushing you too hard."
"You shouldn't be, I completely deserved it."
Seffiroth paused and looked at the night sky. He sighed.
"It's funny now, how I'm with you, with everyone else." Elsa turned to Seffiroth as she heard those words. She's intrigued, as she saw his eyes lost in the billions of lights in the night sky.
"I've been working alone for so long that I've forgotten to be a part of a team again."
"Why did you work alone?" asked Elsa curious.
"What do you think?" asked Seffiroth back. "I've been doing everything I can to keep everyone away from me. Thinking it would be safe for them not get involved with me." He started to chuckle in irony. "Yeah well, it worked out so well until four days ago. Everything just hits you in the face." He sighed, then proceed with looking Elsa straight in the eyes.
"I don't suppose you understand how it felt like, being in my position."
Elsa stood in silence, until she retorts back with, "actually, I do."
Now it's Seffiroth's turn to be intrigued, as shown by his eyebrows slightly gave rise.
Elsa cleared her throat and explained...
"When I was a kid, Anna and I used to be so close. She knew of my power and we used to play together every day." She paused, took a deep breathe, and go on, "then, one day, something happened. Her memory of my power was to be erased, and I had to hide myself from her. Even after the death of our parents, I'm still shutting her out. Then, as you may already know, my was revealed to the world. Even then, Anna still tries to help me. That's why I-that's why I have to do this, for her..."
Before she knew it, tears were pouring down her cheeks.
"Oh... Anna." She said sobbingly.
"You don't have to say anything." Seffiroth said as he tries to comfort her. His races, trying to find a solution to stop her crying.
"If it makes you feel any better. I can tell you for sure that she's alright." He said smiling.
Elsa looks up, as she tries to wipe her tears from her eyes.
"Would you like to know how I know?" Seffiroth asked.
Elsa didn't say anything, she simply responded with a nod.
"Don't laugh." He said, warning her. "You see up there, that star." He said as he pointed towards the sky.
Elsa looked up, only to find a bright star shining with a light matching those of the northern star's.
"That is my lucky star. Somehow, every time that star shines, everything will go according as planned and nothing will ever go against your favor. Yet, every time it's nowhere to be seen, something bad is bound to happen. Precisely like when the raid happened, I couldn't find that star anywhere."
Elsa stared back at the young man's eyes. She can see certainty in the young man's eyes.
Seffiroth smiled before finishing with...
"That's how I knew your sister is fine."
For a moment, there was an awkward pause between the two. Then, the queen suddenly chuckle in humor. Elsa tried to hold in her laughter, but it was no use.
"Oh, you didn't believe me, did you?" said the young man frustrated.
"No, it's not that. I was-"she said unable to finish her sentence as she chuckle some more.
"Ok, now I'm hurt. I think you should go back to Arendelle now. I'll just swim all the way to Hackwald and rescue your sister by myself. Hopefully, she won't laugh when I tell her about this." He said jokingly whilst pretending to be angry.
Elsa, struggling to fight her laughter, tried her best to retort. "No... wait, I-I believe you."
She took a deep breath and finally took control of herself. Then, she stated it once again, in a much clearer tone.
"I believe you, as unbelievable and completely made up it may sound" she then chuckle some more.
"Well, at least she's not crying." Thought Seffiroth.
"Thank you, for that. I really need it." thank the queen, expressing her gratitude.
"Don't mention it, it's not every day I made a queen laugh to my horrible joke."
They smiled to one another. However, not long after, Elsa blushed and faced away from Seffiroth as the young man did the same. There's no word better to describe the situation other than 'awkward'.
Seffiroth sought to change the topic of the conversation. He clears his throat to get rid of the awkwardness, then he asked her.
"So, Ice power huh?"
"Yea, I was born with it. It's not until recently that I started to learn to control it."
"You did pretty well if you ask me."
"Thank you, but there's still much to improve. Most of the time, when I lose my temper, my power went beyond my will." She looked at Seff with a sorrowful look. "It's a bit of time getting used to. Especially to the way people looked at you."
"How did they look at you?"
"Well, now, my own people seems happy everytime I gave them a little demonstration. It's not the same for all the foreign ambassador though. It's not showing, but I can feel that they're frightened and looked at me like I'm some kind of a monster."
"Well, I'd ignore them if I were you."
"I did. But I don't know for how long I can keep this up." She paused, and asked "How about you? What do you think of me? Be honest."
"Well, honestly, I have friends weirder than you, not that you're weird or anything. I just want-"
"I get it." interrupts the Elsa. "Thank you." She said with an honest smile. "You know, you're the second person to hear this from me."
"Woa, really?"
"Yea, the first one was of course my sister."
"Well, then... I am honored."
Elsa giggled hearing it.
"So you're really fine with my power?" she asked, conforming his opinion.
"Like I said, I have friends weirder than you. Basically, weird is part of my life now." he answers, assuring the queen. "Bottom line, I think you're great."
"Thank you." She says as she then chuckled a bit and said; "now I'm starting to wonder what kind of friends you have."
"Oh, you don't want to know." He said jokingly warned the young lady.
"I'm sure they're lovely."
"Don't let them hear that, they'll get smug."
Elsa giggled. "Well, I'll be sure to remember that." She said jokingly.
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The night went on. The two talked for hours. Not knowing when to stop. Every time their topic ends, a new one takes its place.
"You're not being serious?" asked the queen, being doubtful.
"No, I'm dead serious." ensure the young man
"Someone like you... scared of height?" she said whilst holding in her laughter.
"Nothing wrong with that, right?"
"No, nothing, it's just that I saw you fight dangerous armed thugs and survived being drifted in the sea. Yet, your worse fear is height?"
"I-I just can't stand it."
Elsa chuckle some more.
"Well, good to see that you're entertained, your majesty." He said sarcastically as well as jokingly bow down to the young queen.
"Indeed, thank you. And please, call me Elsa."
"You don't like being called 'your majesty'?"
"It's not that, I just prefer someone calling me by my real name." She said, holding down her embarrassment.
The young man chuckled, and replied with; "Well, in that case, call me Seff."
"Seff?"
"All my friends called me by that name, and I think it's a lot shorter and practical, don't you think?" He said explaining.
"So, Seff, thank you again for having this conversation with me."
"You're welcome, your ma-I mean Elsa." Both of them smiled, before Seff continues; "it's getting late, don't you think? You need to sleep, you'll need the energy tomorrow."
"In that case, I should head back to my bunk."
She leaves him by the stern, but before she could get far, she turned and face him before saying;
"Good night, Seff."
Naturally the young man replies to her; "Good night, Elsa".
The young queen then proceed walking into her chamber.
It's going to need some getting used to calling the queen by her real name. That was his thought at the time. He shrugged it off, and yawned out of tiredness.
"I should go to sleep." he thought. With only a few hours of darkness before the earliest dawn, the man climbed up to his bunk. He looked up to the wooden structure of the ship. The tired help him to relax, but as the sound of the wave rocking the boat gently, he can't help to see that angelic face and that stunning white blonde hair every time he closes his eyes. He shook his head, reminding to the fact that they're there to rescue Elsa's sister and other civilians who were kidnapped, as well as retrieving the precious gemstone back.
"Focus Seff, you have a job to do."
With that in mind, he closes his eyes once again.
So what do you think? If you like it, make sure to follow this story, if you don't, please tell me where I did wrong by reviewing it.
A few words about Hackwald, it was a random place in Austria that I chose to be the name of one of the port in the Southern Isles. I have some clue on how I will describe that secluded port town, but I'd like to hear your thoughts. Basically my idea was simple, since the name of the kingdom is 'Southern Isles' I assume it was in the south. Also, since I didn't know the geography of that world, I'm assuming Arendelle is located in the northern hemisphere. Which makes the Southern Isles, being somewhat similar to Greece, with its warm Mediterranean weather. (Of course, I've never been to the Mediterranean, so help are always welcomed)
That's it for this week. And once again, apologize for any mistake along the way.
Next chapter, new OC and an adventure in another land. Until the next chapter... Taraa~