True Loves' Final Act
Chapter Six
Present Day- Elsa's Interrogation
Elsa was led in handcuffs down a minimal to near dark and dingy hallway. The only sound that could be heard was the small clicking noise of her and Leon's shoes on the tiled floor. They passed by multiple rooms, whose metal doors were closed; although she could hear faint sounds coming from a few of them. Most of those sounds however were crying, pleading, or harsh banging, and then as they walked further, eerie silence, "We are still looking for possible traitors to the kingdom." Leon said as he sensed her strange curiosity.
Elsa swallowed, "Traitors?"
"Yes, the war may be over however some still believe it is not over." Leon answered as a lone metal door came into view down the end of the hallway.
Upon seeing this, Elsa's stomach plummeted instantly, "Wait you do not think I am a traitor? I love Arendelle. I would do anything to protect it!" She finished as she came to a sudden stop and tried to look at him. Hence why she came back, hence her mission to save not only her people, but her sister as well! She owes Arendelle a debt of gratitude, and she'd be damned if anyone accuses her being a traitor to her rightful kingdom!
Leon gave her a sinister smile as he looked down at her and roughly forced her back around and forwards, "Then you shouldn't have anything to hide right?"
He played with a ring of keys and opened the door. Pushing her inside, he forced her into a chair. Kneeling down, before Elsa could process anything; he cuffed her legs to the legs of the chair, and then cuffed her hands. Giving her one last sinister smile, he exited while slowly closing the metal door shut.
Elsa's heart was racing as she grunts against her restraints, but the more she pulled and maneuvered her hands and legs, the tighter they became. By now if her powers were working, Arendelle would have been subjected to another winter, or at the very least this jail would have surly iced over. The necklace suddenly felt weighted around her neck and it gave the feeling of strangulation. The pendent was then really warm against her chest and somewhere in the deep rational recesses of her mind, she looked down to see it slightly glowing against the pale light of the lone lantern. Swallowing down the lump that rose in her throat, she just managed to calm herself down and stopped struggling against her bindings. Taking more deep breaths, Elsa tries to keep her thoughts focused on something else…not at the situation, so she looks around the room and takes stock in what is around; which is next to nothing.
The chair she was sitting in was uncomfortable. Growing up, she learned how to sit with her back straight and shoulders squared; but she learned the etiquette posture in a the castle where the chairs were more comfortable than the one that she was currently sitting in. The one that she was in was a simple hard wooden chair with a nail that was pricking into the lower part of her back. The cuffs were chaffing her legs and her wrists from all the struggling she had been doing. Her eyes deviated from her arms and legs, but instead to the walls. They were bare, and to Elsa they seemed be made out of dark grey brick like blocks. The lantern in the corner gave off an eerie and ominous glow. Since the chair was in the middle of the room, Elsa had the feeling of the walls closing in around her, which made her breathing pick up again, however she did not have time to dwell on calming herself down because the metal door opened and Anna walked in, "Anna!" Elsa exclaimed without thinking.
Anna slammed the door closed and immediately glared at Elsa, "Just who the hell do you think you are addressing me as if we are the very best of friends?!"
Elsa winced and of course her panic mind caught up, "I-I-I am sorry…" The pendant became warm again and she knew that it was working overtime again to make sure her identity and powers remained a secret.
"You will address me as Commander or Commander Anna, or if you must, ma'am. We are not friends, and we are most certainly not family."
Actually we are, Elsa thought but obviously and wisely kept her mouth shut as Anna went to the lantern. The light began to get brighter, however that did not do anything to the already dreary room. In fact it made the room more depressing, ominous, and foul mood, "I am sorry ma'am." Elsa said as calmly as she could, "Please forgive me…"
Anna looked back at the woman in front of her. So far this interrogation was not going well in her mind. It also was not helping that this peculiar woman was awakening strange feelings, "Have we met before?" Anna asked without thinking.
Elsa did not know how to respond, but in sticking with the story she said, "No, as you said we have never been to Arendelle…"
"We?"
"My brother Christopher." Elsa stated., "The man that was in the cell with me."
Anna nodded and leaned against the wall, placing one boot on the wall with her arms crossed, "Ah ha." Mulling that fact over, she knew that somehow Elsa was lying, but placed that aside and got down to business, "And what is your name?"
"Elizabeth."
"Elizabeth what?"
Oh how could she have missed this part of the name picking? Think Elsa, think, "Elizabeth Nolan." She sputtered out suddenly. Nolan? She questioned? How in the hell had she picked that one?
Anna nodded not seeming to be phased of her suspects behavior, "Nolan huh?" She didn't have to worry about writing any information down. Little did the suspect know that there was a small vent right above her in the ceiling; the room was designed special that allowed sound to flow clearly with no interference to a separate room where Leon was taking notes about the happenings of this conversation. The only real thing Anna had to look out for was change in voice (mostly), demeanor, and posture, "Any middle name? Parents…?"
"No middle name," Elsa answered automatically, and she made sure to sound remorseful, "our parents are dead. They passed on a while-"
Anna held up a hand and snapped, "I do not need a life story Elizabeth." Elsa winced at this, "I did not ask for a life story. If I wanted to know what happened, I'd ask. Got it?"
"Yes."
"Yes what?"
"Commander." Elsa nearly spat out. She hated seeing her sister like this. The Anna she knew would not be so callous as to dismiss someone like they did not matter. She would have shown compassion and understanding. However this further drove the point to Elsa that this was not her Anna. This was not her caring sweet sister…this was someone completely different and void of any and all type of emotion…
Anna was watching her suspect with a critical eye. The tone and the way she was holding herself was not common in a person of the status that she seemed to be, "You seem to have a strong sense of composure Miss Nolan."
"Excuse me?" Elsa asked surprised not understanding the statement as she made to sit up further in the uncomfortable chair, but being careful to mind the nail.
Anna smirked and got off the wall to gesture to all of Elsa's general posture, "That is what I mean." Walking around now, Anna took a place behind Elsa's chair and leaned closely into her personal space, "Just now you held yourself a bit differently than a typical person of your socioeconomic status."
The way Anna was talking to her was really unnerving. Elsa turned her head so that she was literally face to face with her former sister; and just like in the courtroom that day, she saw a spark, like that of a predator that had its prey in their trap, in her sister's turquoise blue eyes, "My parents raised me to be respectful. Is that a crime?"
"Only lying is a crime, and now I am asking, what did your parents do that warranted such impeccable manners?" Anna asked as she stepped away from Elsa and began to pace around her.
Elsa tried to keep as calm as possible as she watched her interrogator, "They sold ice for a living…my brother and I inherited the business when they passed."
"Interesting. So you had gotten your manners from ice merchants?"
"They worked for a variety of people, of course you have to know how to talk to certain groups…ma'am." True enough, Elsa thought thinking of her position as the former (soon to be) ruler of the kingdom.
Taking that into consideration, Anna still thought that something was not adding up, "Where did you say you were from?"
"Kirkenes. It is really far in the northeastern part of the kingdom." Elsa stated.
Anna nodded, "I know where that is. It was one of the many areas we searched."
"Searched?"
"For the main enemy…what the whole war was about." Anna stated breaking her 'tough-show no mercy-no bullshit' character for a tone of surprise, "Were you living under a rock or something in Kirkenes?"
Living with rocks for a day or so maybe, "No we have just been out of reach for a while trying to stay safe. We escaped to the mountains to try and collect as much ice as possible."
It was like a lightning bolt that struck Anna…the mountains…the person that her King was still after in order to restore peace. An attack may have not happened in months, but now a lead. Giving Elsa the most critical look Anna had ever given someone, she took a predatory step close to her main suspect who could possibly be a witness…or an accomplice, "Did you say that you took shelter in the mountains?"
Elsa saw the immediate change in Anna as her sister stared directly at her, "Y-yes."
"Where?"
"North Mountain." Elsa said thinking of a destination on the fly. As she said that, she wondered if either Marshmallow or her castle is alright.
Anna took a step back and knocked on the metal door three times. It opened and another guard was there. Elsa saw Anna whisper something to the guard and he nodded and jogged off quickly. Closing the door again, Anna faced Elsa, "Why the North Mountain if you live in Kirkenes? I mean it is cold enough, and has a lot of its own mountains…"
Ok, seems like I missed a lot of holes in this cover story; Elsa thought wondering how she is going to tell Kristoff all of this or if she will remember details to everything that she has been saying in the event Anna preforms the same interrogation line of questioning on him…however then another thought hit her…what if he was in questioning already or has been since she had been taken away? With that thought in mind, her stomach plummeted as she answered and hoped for the best, "We had left Kirkenes at the start of the war," Elsa started slowly as she tried to look like she was recalling the details, but obviously trying to make up details as she went along. Her necklace was glowing softly in response as her mind started forming the story and the words spilled out of her mouth, "the different towns we went to were not really safe; but we tried to make do. We had entered Norsjö when we heard how bad the war had gotten, and heard for fellow vendors that Arendelle was supposed to be a safe haven. Turns out Christopher does not really have a good sense of direction, and we had gotten lost in the Northern Mountains."
At this point there was a three rap knock on the door. Anna quickly strode over and opened it. Elsa took notice that it was the same guard from before and watched as he turned over a folded piece of paper. Afterwards the guard said something else and Elsa heard Anna respond, "We are almost done. I just have one more question. Release him though, but warn him not to leave quite yet." The guard nodded and Elsa had a feeling that it was about Kristoff and somehow knew that Anna wanted her to hear that.
As the door closed Anna turned back to Elsa, "Your brother is finished with his interrogation, and as you heard me say, you are almost done. I just want one more thing from you."
"What is that?" Elsa asked in half response and half wanting to know what the folded piece of paper was about.
"What was happening on the North Mountain when you two were up there?" Anna asked avoiding Elsa's question completely.
Elsa felt the already tight knot in her stomach tighten even more, "I am sorry." Elsa stated slowly as she tried to lean forward, but her restraints prevented her from doing so, "I am afraid I don't-"
"Did it seem magical to you?" Anna asked clarifying her previous question.
Her necklace felt warm again, "I can't say for sure," Elsa responded not sure where this was going.
Anna nodded and walked over to the chair and knelt down while placing the paper in her pocket, "Ok. I am going to release you and lead you out to rejoin your brother."
"Just like that?" Elsa asked as her legs started to get circulation back in them.
Anna nodded as she worked on Elsa's wrists, "Yup. As I said Oaken recanted his assault statement and said it was a misunderstanding, and I did not know what to think of the two of you."
Elsa rubbed her chaffed wrists and looked at Anna curiously, "May I ask one thing?"
"You just did, but you can ask something else I guess."
"What was that piece of paper?" Elsa asked motioning to Anna's pocket. Anna didn't say anything, but pulled out the piece of paper. Unfolding it, she looked at it and then back at Elsa. Still keeping silent she turned it around and handed it to Elsa…all the while constantly watching Elsa's posture and emotional reaction.
Kristoff stood in the main lobby all the while looking out the window to make eye contact with Sven. He had just been put through the most rigorous conversation of his life! The questions, the attitude of the guards, and the room he was in…he wanted to get out of there…like now! However the guard that had released him told him he had to wait for his 'sister'. Come on, Kristoff thought, come on Elsa. Just as he was about to approach the main desk, the door behind the clerk opened and he saw Elsa walking out with Anna right behind her.
His breath caught in his throat at the looks of his (no ex-) fiancée. He managed to briefly look at her from the few quick times he saw her, but now here she was right in front of him…and the book that Pabbie gave them did not do her any justice. In fact there seemed to be a lot the book had left out. Looking at Elsa, he knew something bad had happened, despite the calm and collected appearance, "Your charges have been dropped. You are not deemed as traitors, nor is there any charges filed against you from this morning's fiasco." Anna spoke in a commanding manner Kristoff had gotten all too accustomed.
"Thank you ma'am." Kristoff said. During his interrogations, his necklace had felt warm and had given his mind the information he needed. He knew that the details had somehow came from Elsa's quick thinking, but wanted to discuss it with her and the magic with Pabbie; but first they had to get out of there.
"You are welcome…although I am afraid to be the bearer of bad news for you two that you will not get anywhere here by selling ice." Anna pointed out the window.
They looked outside and for the first time, Kristoff noticed the puddle of water and Sven's pity look…the ice had melted. Well, Kristoff sighed to himself, it is the middle of spring and Elsa's powers are out of commission at the moment, "But what I also mean is that no one wants or needs ice around here." Kristoff watched as Anna looked at Elsa specifically at this comment, "So if you want I can see if I can offer you two a position at the castle."
At this Elsa, who was looking down as to not give anything away, looked at Anna in surprise, "Really?"
Anna nodded, "Your brother here looks like he can handle just about anything thrown his way, and you…I do not know…there is something about you." Anna said still trying to keep in her character, "Now be at the castle tomorrow around lunch, and do not be late."
Without further prompting, Elsa and Kristoff were shown out. Quickly taking Sven, Kristoff and Elsa lead the way through the rest of the town and out the gates. Neither spoke a word until Kristoff said in Sven's voice, "That was insane!"
"Tell us about it." Kristoff said to his friend.
"I thought you guys were found out or in really big trouble."
"We are." Elsa said in a tone that suggested that extreme seriousness was needed and they stopped to look at her. She reached into her bag and pulled out a folded piece of paper, "I do not know how your interrogation went, but mine was well not important right now. I told her that we came from Kirkenes and made a stop in Norsjö. Then took refuge in the North Mountain because you got us lost."
"Yea I know, for some reason I told the same story you must have told."
"Really?"
"Yes, but I'll explain my thing later, for now what has gotten you so wound tight?"
Elsa took a shaky breath, "She asked me, after she had a guard give her this," Elsa waved the paper in her hand, "if anything weird was going on in the mountain. Apparently it has something to do with this Arendelle's enemy."
Kristoff eyed the now ominous paper in her hands. He swallowed a lump in his throat as his stomach got a huge foreboding knot in it, "Ok I was not asked anything about this…"
"Well I was. I told her no, or rather I was not sure…she had proceeded to let me go after that; however my curiosity got the better of me." Elsa held the paper out to him.
Kristoff knew he did not want to see the paper…something was telling him to not take it…to not look at it…to tell Elsa he did not want to know. But sometimes you have to do things you don't want to do, he took the paper, "Of course it did." Kristoff said in response to Elsa's explanation. He swallowed again as he unfolded the paper, how bad could it-oh…well a situation this bad could of course only get worse.
"I am Arendelle's enemy…" Elsa stated.
"Correction, we are Arendelle's enemy," Kristoff said as he looked over the wanted poster with scarily accurate pictures of themselves.
BY THE ORDER OF KING HANS OF ARENDELLE
THE FOLLOWING PERSONS ARE WANTED ALIVE TO STAND TRIAL FOR:
TREASON, WITCH CRAFT, AND CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY
THE ONE WHO CALLS HERSELF:
ELSA THE QUEEN OF ICE AND SNOW
AND HER ACCOMPLICE:
KRISTOFF BJORGMAN THE MASTER OF ICE