Chapter 7

"Morning sleepy head!" came Anna's cheerful voice.

Elsa groaned as the sunlight came streaming through the windows. "Anna," she grumbled as she pulled the comforter over her head.

Anna grinned mischievously, "Now now now, that's what you get for staying out all night with a man. You still have a kingdom to run."

Elsa pulled back the covers and shot her sister a look. "How did you know I was out with..."

She smiled, "Oh, after you stormed off from dinner last night, I went looking for you. I was going to make sure you apologized to Prince Naeil. Fortunately it seems you'd already done so when we spotted you in the garden, so we just watched for bit until we got tired and went to bed."

Elsa nodded slightly as her sister brought her a cup of steaming tea. The queen gratefully accepted the mug and sipped the dark fluid down. "Of course, I must say I'm a tiny bit disappointed...I don't see any white hairs in your bed, let alone a Wolf Prince, so I guess nothing really interesting happened after I left."

Elsa blushed before glaring at her sister, then smiled wickedly. "Hmm, I better tell the staff to get the mops...those ice blasts I let loose on his walls will be melting quickly..."

Anna's mouth dropped open and Elsa giggled, and tossed a pillow, "God, Anna, nothing happened. We just sat in the Garden talking. He was a perfect gentleman the entire time. Far more a prince than a wolf."

Anna smiled, breathing a sigh of relief, "So...are you two...okay with each other?" she asked, letting a hint of genuine concern into her voice.

Elsa looked at her sister, and she smiled slightly, "I think we are...at least...I hope we are."

Ragnar stood in the corner of the room as Naeil washed his face with a damp cloth. "So...she forced you to reveal yourself...and then begged you to forgive her and you spilled your guts to her about Yoitsu and our people..."

Naeil nodded sleepily, "That pretty much sums up the night, Sergeant."

Ragnar shook his head sadly, "And you didn't even get so much as a good night kiss? I swear it must be the human part of the bloodline..."

Naeil looked at his Sergeant groggily. "Well, at least we don't have to keep up this little charade anymore. Inform the Guard that we are welcomed in Arendelle as we are."

Ragnar grinned, "I think the one that's most relieved to hear that is the one who's going to be falling asleep on his feet most of the day."

Kai rushed into the Queen's chambers as she was still having her maids prep her for the day. "Your Majesty, forgive the intrusion, but it has come to my attention that there are werewolves roaming the castle!"

Elsa glowered and sighed, "They're not werewolves, Kai. They're Wolf Kind, there's a big difference."

The aide nodded slightly, "Your Majesty, I'm not one to normally question your decisions, but are you sure it's wise letting them roam freely."

Elsa looked at her aide, "They are the same men and women who came here yesterday offering to defend Arendelle, with their lives if necessary. We accepted that offer, so therefore we accept them. Do I make myself clear?" This last part she said in a tone that allowed for no discussion, and the aide nodded contritely.

"Perfectly clear, your Majesty."

Elsa closed her eyes and sighed, "Alright, Kai...spit it out."

Kai took a deep breath. "I personally don't have an issue with this...I grew up with the same fairy tales you did. I'm just concerned what will happen when our enemies hear about..."

Elsa nodded. "You're afraid more nations will join with Weselton when they hear the 'Demoness Snow Witch' has allies from the north that can change into wolves..."

Kai shrugged, "You know the situation as well as I do, your Majesty."

The snow queen sighed and held up her hand, forming an ice crystal in the form of a running wolf, and smiled.

"I'm done being scared of what others will think of me, it hurts too much."

At Weselton harbor, the sounds of anchors being raised clattered through the morning air, combining with the sounds of sails being unfurled in the breeze. Shouts of victory, intermingled with cries of devotion as well as the orders to make way. On board his flagship, Exploitation, the Duke of Weselton let a small smile cross his lips. A few days at sea, followed by what probably would be a few hours, maybe a day of battle...and then Arendelle would be his. He knew that Arendelle's long time allies were also making moves to save the small kingdom, but by the time they got there, all that would be left to accomplish would be signing new trade accords.

High on a cliff that overlooked the harbor, a lone wolf turned and let out a long, mournful howl into the winds. As it echoed over the mountains, other wolves from other packs picked it up and made the same call. Soon the call had crossed the mountains and was picked up by a small pack in the forests of Arendelle. They repeated the long howl, which reached the ears of a woman in a grayish/white cloak walking along the battlements of the main palace. The woman immediately left the wall, to seek out her Prince.

Queen Elsa sat in her throne as Kai, Naeil, and Ragnar walked around a map of Arendelle and discussed in general terms how they planned to defend the small kingdom. Naeil had stepped away from the map to ask if Elsa had any concerns of her own just as the Wulfen Guard entered the room. "They sailed at dawn this morning," she said simply.

Ragnar nodded and the warrior bowed and left. Elsa took a deep breath and Naeil immediately sensed the brief flicker of fear that ran through the young Queen. Although he wanted to just race over and give her a reassuring hug, he had to settle for merely placing his hand on hers and smiling.

Kai sighed and returned to staring at the map. "So, in five days time, we will see their sails at the fjord's entrance."

Naeil looked at the map and then shrugged, trying to put as much confidence into his voice as he could muster. "In two days time, the first two regiments will be here. By sundown of the following day, we will have 5000 troops, along with some special surprises, courtesy of Yoitsu."

Elsa nodded and looked at her aide. "How goes the gathering of supplies for the expected siege?"

Kai frowned, "Well, fortunately, when your spell was reversed, we found that we didn't lose any of our crops. However, the tension with Weselton has affected our imports from other nations. We have enough for a short seige, a few days perhaps, but nothing more."

Elsa inwardly cursed at herself. Yet one more thing that was going to affect the entire kingdom because of her fear on the day of her coronation. Ragnar coughed and as he extended a hand to the northern pass that the Yoitsuan were coming down. "Our troops are expert foragers. I will send word to them to gather supplies from the wild as they come down to the port. At the very least our soldiers will not have to eat your food."

Kai raised an eyebrow, but nodded in agreement. Elsa did her best to not let the image of giant wolves walking into her city with bloody carcasses in their jaws stay in her mind.

Naeil pointed to the entrance of the fjord. "The best option is to try to stop them here...where the number of ships can be controlled to some extent. What do you think Ragnar, we put our surprises on the cliffs overlooking the entrance?"

Ragnar nodded, "In fact, didn't you say there were old foundations up there, Kai?"

Kai nodded and Elsa leaned forward, "What surprises are you talking about?"

Naeil gave her a devilish smile as his ears flicked in amusement, "Yoitsuan Howitzers"

Elsa nodded and realized that when Naeil had offered the full weight of military might, he meant it. She would have to ask him how they were transporting such heavy items down the mountain trail at such speed. However, she was more concerned with what appeared to be one major factor that no one had yet to bring up.

"What part do I play in this battle?"

Kai gulped and Naeil flicked his tail nervously as he walked away from the map. Ragnar just looked at Kai expectantly. "Well, uh, your Majesty," Kai stammered.

The temperature in the room dropped noticeably as Elsa stood up, a look of determination on her face. "I am not some wilting flower you are going to lock away in the fortress walls while the blood of not one but two nations is laid on the line for my sake. I caused this mess with my power, and I wish to help fix it!"

Ragnar chuckled and Naeil came to the Queen's side, "No one is suggesting you don't have a role in this battle, your Majesty."

Kai coughed and was about to speak but the daggers launched from Elsa's eyes silenced him.

Naeil's tail and ears twitched as he took a deep breath. "The truth is...well, we haven't really discussed it."

Ragnar growled and shook his head, "Oh for Holo's sake, can't you just spit it out." The old sergeant looked up the Queen, "We don't have the foggiest clue of what all your abilities are, other than freezing things and making it snow."

Elsa blinked and then smiled and sat down again. "Thank you, Sergeant. Perhaps somebody could have simply asked me that earlier..."

Naeil's body stiffened at the barb. Elsa actually did feel a little guilty herself though. During their long conversation last night, she'd been so interested in hearing about Yoitsu and Naeil that she'd really not considered that he might have questions about her. Part of her had also just assumed that she'd march out at the head of the army and blast away. The idea that they had to actually know exactly what she could and couldn't do with her powers just really hadn't occurred to her.

"So," she said smiling, "What do you want to see first?"

Naeil marched from the room in a hurry and Ragnar followed, "Captain?" he asked, using the tone the meant he wasn't going to let this conversation go.

"Not right now, Sergeant. I have to go turn a beautiful woman, one I care deeply for, into a weapon," he said bitterly.

Ragnar grabbed the younger man's arm, "That is precisely why it has to be right now."

Naeil stopped and looked down both sides of the hall, making sure Elsa was no where in sight before continuing. "Was that really necessary?"

Ragnar stood tall and got a grave look on his face, "What...do you agree with her Steward that she should be locked in the castle until the danger is passed?"

Naeil shook his head, "Of course not, but I also don't want her out on the front line where she can get..."

Ragnar nodded, "Captain," he started, before relaxing a bit, "Naeil. She wants to defend her kingdom and has been blessed with the power to do so. Unless she demonstrates some amazing close quarters combat skills, I'm not suggesting we strap a blade on her and have her lead the army...but we do need to know what she can and can't do. We were already counting on her creating a snow storm, but what if she can do far more. Hell, what if she can wall off the fjord with ice?! Did you ever stop to consider how that could affect the coming battle. We might not even need to fight!"

Naeil growled in irritation, knowing the old warrior was right, but the Sergeant continued, "And this isn't just about this coming fight. Having displayed such a desire, the situation may arise again. She needs to know what she can do, and you might not be there to help out."

Naeil nodded, then slapped the Sergeant's shoulder. "As always, you give me wisdom when I need it the most."

The Sergeant smiled, "And a swift kick in your arse if you don't heed it."