Anna and Kristoff were returning to Arendelle. Having her breakfast, Anna had had the disturbing feeling that that day would be the last ordinary day for a long while and had felt the necessity to go for a stroll with Kristoff, as they used to do. That same evening, both sisters were going to receive officially the delegations. When Anna's face was known by the newcomers, going out for a walk would have been impossible without attracting everyone's attention.
Anna had tried to convince Elsa to come with them. Elsa had shut herself in the castle the last two months working night and day. Going for a walk would have been good for her, but she was too busy dealing with the last details. Anna has suffered pangs of conscience, leaving Elsa alone in the castle, but she and Kristoff had worked as hard as Elsa, and it might be their last opportunity for a long while.
So, they had left the castle early in the morning and climbed the foothills of the mountains around Arendelle. From that high ground they had a good view of the castle and the village around. The terrains surrounding Arendelle were full with encampments, they have been raised to accommodate the retinues of the different delegations. For a moment Anna had the crazy idea that they looked as the encampments of an enemy army besieging the castle.
"Have you said plentypotentiaries?" Asked Kristoff.
Anna stopped daydreaming and centered her attention in the explanation she was doing to Kristoff. "Plenipotentiaries, the word is plenipotentiaries. They have the power to take decisions on their governments' behalf. That's the reason because they bring far more people in their retinues than the diplomats who came to the coronation a year ago. In the coronation day the representatives were common diplomats. But today we are going to receive the best and most powerful diplomats of the European powers. Elsa and..." She took a deep breath before concluding."...me."
" You are going to do well, I'm sure."
"I depend too much on Elsa. He had been trained by our parent in these issues. My training should have started when our parents returned from the voyage. Even Elsa's training was incomplete. We would have needed more time with them, a whole life in fact." She said the last words in a barely audible voice and remained silent her mind lost in the past.
Kristoff put her arm around Anna's shoulders. She smiled and leaned her head on Kristoff. "My father forecast that." She continued. "Elsa told me yesterday that he said that Arendelle is a very isolated place, and this is our protection. But sometimes this is not enough. From time to time great powers like England or France interfere in Arendelle's life, and you have to handle it as well as you can. We have been isolated until now, it's time to face the outside world."
Anna looked to the mountains around Arendelle, they were like the borders of a nest, a protecting barrier. But the protection had been broken and they should control the situation. She slipped gently from Kristtof embrace."We can go through Arendelle." She said with decision.
"It is full of people, somebody could recognize you and what for?" Kristoff replied surprised.
"I want to see how those newcomers treat our people. It 's my responsibility to take care of them. Regarding to be recognized, look at me." She took a step backwards and spread her arms smiling. "Do you think that anybody is going to recognize a princess under these clothes."
Kristoff took a long glance at Anna's clothes. They were of good quality but simple, truth to be told she looked like the daughter of a prosperous farmer or merchantman. It was difficult to discover a member of the royal family of Arendelle in that young woman of shining eyes. "What about the rosemaling?" Asked Kristoff signaling the lower border of his girlfriend dress.
She looked down and glanced to the edge of her long skirt trimmed with the embroidered small emblems of the crocus, the flower that was the official crest of Arendelle. They had the color and shape corresponding to a princess of Arendelle.
"Only a princess of Arendelle wear these patterns. Somebody could recognize who you are." Stated Kristoff.
"Even if they realize that I wear them, do you really believe that anyone of those newcomers would recognize the royal emblems of Arendelle?" Kristoff was going to reply but Anna turned on her heel and walked off slowly towards Arendelle. He shook his head and walked along the dirt track following Anna.
Anna and Kristoff make their way towards Arendelle through the imperial encampment. The place was deserted, only a few servants from the castle were finishing off the place.
"Is there any news about the imperial delegation?" Asked Kristoff.
"They should arrive during the morning. Kai is getting nervous by the minute. We can't start without them."
"Why are they so important."
"The Empire is the greatest power in Europe. From its Austruo-Hungarian core it controls the north of Italy, most of the Balkans, the lower Danube and the lands to the north of the black seas as far as the Crimean Peninsula. They are far away from Arendelle but anyway they should be the first delegation to be formally received. That's the reason because we have delayed three days the reception until they arrive. Poor Kai, he had been a month reading books about protocol, the imperial etiquette is rather complex."
"How is the imperial flag?"Asked Kristoff.
"Yellow, with a two-headed eagle."
"Then the empire has arrived." He signaled towards the mouth of the fjord where a great ship was entering. Both gazed the heavy and slow ship approaching to Arendelle.
"They put forward a..." Kristoff doubted for a second."...suitor for you."
"Yes. In fact, they propose two candidates, one for every one of us."
"How many candidates have come?"
"Ten for Elsa, twenty two for me."
"What a success, you will make your sister jealous. " Joked Kristoff joyless.
"It's easier to fit the conditions to marry a princess than to marry a queen. It's a question of protocol."
"There isn't too much space for love."
"No, there isn't."
While talking, they have been moving through the campsite and went out reaching a little stream which was placed between the empty place and its adjacent encampment. The Lithuanians have already occupied it and the place was humming with activity while the newcomers established themselves in their new home in the days to come.
Strange words in a foreign language filled the air while the men clad in light green uniforms moved the baggage inside the tents. In a field by the path two bare chested men were practicing sword fighting. One of them was a bald man with a ugly scar over his face, the other was tall as a fully grown man. But when Anna approached them, she realized that he was a teenager taller than many adults.
They were discussing in their own language while fighting. The boy looked angry with the bald man, and his opponent seemed to mock at him. The tone of their voice was so hard that it was difficult to say if they were training or in a real fight. Anna feels uncomfortable, the soldiers clad in light green and those men fighting didn't look as a diplomatic delegation but much more like an invading army.
They left the Lithuanians behind and arrived to Arendelle. It was amazing. The village was full of people of the different delegations, some were civilians dressed in common clothes, but a lot of them were soldiers clad in their full-dress uniforms. A mixture of colors and distinctions from all Europe was crammed into the narrows streets of Arendelle.
For Kristoff, raised among the trolls in the wilderness, Arendelle used to be a crowned place. In that moment, it was just unimaginable. Servants moving baggage, soldiers and sailors looking for a place to drink, attendants bringing messages and the people of Arendelle trying to take care of their affairs.
When they passed the best inn in the town, Anna realized that a young man was standing in the middle of the street with a confused gaze in his eyes, looking around him as if he was seeking help. He had a childish expression in his face, and was obviously afraid. Ana was about to help him, when a tall man with long black air, clad in a dark green uniform approached and take him by the arm. The presence of the tall man seemed to reassure the young man.
"Poor man." Said Anna to Kristoff. "What is he doing in Arendelle?"
"Maybe he had come with one of the delegations." Replied Kristoff.
"I suppose he must be a relative of one of the candidates. But I thought that it's unwise to travel with a man in that condition." Concluded Anna and kept on walking towards the long pier where the reception of the imperials was planned.
When Anna and Kristoff reached the pier a boat from the imperial brigantine was approaching. Anna saw Kai, waiting for the imperials in the harbor. Even from that distance, Anna could see that he was tense. Looking at Kai, Anna noticed a man over the long pier. He wore black hussar uniform and walked towards the boat as if he was going to run through a brick wall.
"Good morning Kai." Said Anna Approaching to the seneschal.
"Good Morning princess Anna!" Said Kai surprised to see Anna there.
"How are you doing with the imperials?" Asked the princess.
"Well I have gone to their ship in order to make the first contact, and they have received me with a complaint." Kai's voice sounded worried.
"So soon?" Anna couldn't help an expression of amused surprise.
"Yes, When I explained the situation of the imperial encampment they told me that they don't want the Lithuanian as neighbors."
"But, they are their allies. What's the problem."
"Well they have been at war with the Lithuanians during ten years before they signed a treaty two years ago."
"But we told about that when we distributed the encampments and it is supposed that the treaty has preference."
"Yes but ..."
"I think that we should leave the harbor. Kai can handle the Imperials on his own. We would be only of nuisance value." Interrupted Kristoff nodding towards the boat from the brigantine that was about to reach the pier.
"You are right."Replied Anna, and saying goodbye to Kai turned around to leave the harbor. She took a last look at the pier and saw the black figure at the end of it waiting for the boat hands on hips. In that moment the sound of the cannons broke the calm of the fiord. All the people in the harbor left their work and looked in astonishment towards the origin of the sound. The English frigate, anchored at the far end of the fiord had fired a salute for the imperials with its cannons.
Anna gave at the frigate a last glance, and left the harbor with Kristoff at her side through the streets of Arendelle, heading towards the castle. While crossing the main square Anna saw that under the great canopy of the market a great table had been placed and a lot of people was around it. Some were seated, others were standing, but all were drinking, laughing and talking very loud in different languages. At the head of the table was a fat man dressed in hussar uniform with his bandaged right foot resting over a small stool. Looking at him Anna realized that all the people around the table wore hussar uniform, or an equivalent light cavalry unit uniform, but for two men next to the head of the table.
The one at the right was a colonel of the British infantry with his red and white uniform. He had a face round as a moon and hair as red as his uniform. The other on the left was a tall man with black air and colorless eyes who was dressed in civilian clothing. The other people around the table wore the typical Hussar uniform, tight trousers and jackets. Knee-high boots and the pelisse, a short fur lined jacket, hanging loose over the left shoulder.
The daughter of the innkeeper, a young girl no older than eighteen, whose name was Ida, came with more wine and beer for the table. The men at the table received her with cheers and shouts of approval. While the young waitress was pouring the drinks, some of the seated soldiers started to joke in different languages. The young girl couldn't understand a word, but it was obvious that she was getting nervous.
A Bavarian hussar, clad in a red uniform, raised from the table and talked in German. "Young lady please, sit and drink a toast to the beautiful Queen and princess of Arendelle." The girl blushed to the roots of her air and tried to go around the Bavarian.
"You lack the appropriate touch, my friend." Said in French an hussar with a dark green uniform with yellow braids in the chest.
"Talk her in French!" Said another French hussar, clad in a light gray uniform and red boots next to the first."So we can appreciate your skill and she won't understand a word, whatever you say."
"A burst of laughter from the table accompanied such words." The girl stepped back, but she bumped into a young lieutenant of the British light dragoons, he wore a light blue uniform with the sleeves and trousers heavy embroidered with white patterns, who was standing behind her.
"Let's try in English." Said in that language in a cheerful mood." Please young lady, make us the honor of sitting with us."
The waitress looked around for a way to scape. She was obviously frightened, but roars of laughter and joyful expressions cheered the dragoon's words.
"Let's try making gestures" Said in french the former Bavarian hussar to all the people around the table. They greeted those words banging on the table and giving him advice on the more useful or funny gestures. The hussar turned back to face the waitress, but he was surprised to see a young red headed lady, barely older than the waitress interposing herself between them. While Anna moved to face the hussar, she put a hand over Ida's shoulder and gently pushed the frightened girl away.
The princess gazed at the hussar with calm but fierce eyes. "Leave us Ida." She said without looking at the young girl. The daughter of the innkeeper nodded and ran away towards her father who, realizing that something was wrong, had left the inn and was coming.
The English light dragoon behind them was so surprised that he even didn't try to stop Ida's.
"What a surprise!" Said the Bavarian hussar smiling. "Were you jealous of your friend? " He talked in French to be sure that everybody will understand him.
"I suppose you pride yourself on mocking at a young girl who don't even understand you." Calmly said Anna in French giving him a displeased look.
The Bavarian was taken aback, although he quickly replied. "Wow! I have found a pearl! If I am able to understand what the girl says, everything becomes much easier." But the tone in his voice was dubious, something was escaping his notice and that fact bothered him. Anyway the people around the table encouraged him.
"Then let me rephrase that. You are so afraid of women that you need twelve friends to be brave enough to talk one of them, even if she can't understand you?" Anna retorted his question to mock the proud hussar.
Everybody around the table laughed, but the Bavarian hussar. He was hesitating when a hand fell over his shoulder. The man with the colorless eyes have moved from the head of the table and was at his side. "She is a princess of Arendelle, stupid!" The man said in German to the hussar.
The Bavarian turned pale and tried to say something, but when Anna heard those words, she turned around to leave the canopy. The English, who didn't speak German, hadn't understood the warning, and tried to block her path. But the young princess gave him a furious look. "Get out of my way!" She ordered in English. The light dragon stepped back, something in Anna's tone and the expression of the Bavarian caused him worry.
Kristoff, who had been watching all the time ready to intervene, took him by the arm, and pushed her out of the square. "What did that man say." He didn't speak any language but Norwegian, so he hadn't understand the conversation. But he had realized that the last warning from the civilian had surprised Anna.
"He had recognized me! He said that I was an Arendelle princess! How has he been able to..." Anna asked surprised.
"Anna, It was easy." Said Kristoff calmly. "You have talked in their own language and you have confronted them. You have attracted their attention and one of them knows about the livery of Arendelle."
"I can hardly believe that he knows enough about the royal protocol."
"You said that they were the best diplomats in Europe. I suppose that they aren't common people, and therefore common assumptions aren't enough, dealing with them."
Anna thought for a while and, suddenly her eyes widened. "Kristoff, have I done what I have done?"
"Are you talking about face alone twelve soldiers that you and your sister will receive this evening in the official delegations." Replied Kristoff, smiling.
"Elsa will kill me!" Exclaimed Anna.
"Don't worry. Everybody but the man in red seems to be having a good time. What language were you talking with them?"
"French." Replied Anna. "and English."
"And how do you speak those languages?"
"Foreign Languages were part of our education. We have to learn French because it is the language of the diplomacy. Everybody in the conference will speak French, other languages will be used only if both speakers are more comfortable with them."
"And what about the English?"
"Well I liked to study languages. I thought that they were part of remote lands that someday I would visit in Elsa's name. So I studied also English and German."
"And Elsa?"
"She disliked to learn languages. The French was enough for her, but She speaks it as if it was her mother tongue. I have a strong Norwegian accent instead."
They had been walking towards the castle while talking and eventually reached the bridge to the castle gates. Both remained silent while entering in the bridge guarded by two guards of Arendelle.
When they were away from the soldiers Kristoff said. "I wish I could be more useful."
"What do you mean?"
"All this situation, the plenipotentiaries, the languages...I'm good moving in the wilderness, but my skills are useless in this situation."
"Oh, come on! You were useful enough in the expedition to the inner valleys!" Anna waited for further comments. Since they had started to prepare for the conference, she had a feeling that Kristoff tried to say something to her.
"Kristoff, do you want to tell me something else?" She asked at last.
"Ehhhhh... No." The mountain man was behaving in a strange way, but who was behaving as usual?
"I need you at my side. I need your common sense to avoid doing silly things." She said in a sweet tone of voice.
"Things like facing a bunch of Hussars alone?" Replied Kristoff smiling at last.
"Yes, your common sense will be necessary. I have the feeling that there won't be too much common sense in Arendelle in the days to come." She said looking at the encampments around the village. Both smiled to each other, but their smiles had a bit of sadness.
On the main square of Arendelle Otto took a last look towards Anna and returned at his uncle's side. "According to the ornaments in her dress, she is a princess of Arendelle."
"Anna I suppose, since there is no other princess. You were wrong interrupting them. I wanted to know what she's made of." Replied the old hussar. Both were talking in German.
"Have you recognized her?" Asked Otto, surprised.
"You haven't been the only one to read the book about Norwegian Royal livery that Lord Halkett had in his library."
"So she was the princess of Arendelle." Interrupted Collin Hakket also talking in German. "She is a bold girl, that's for sure. She had preferred to face the hussars herself instead of calling the guards."
"It is a pity that Otto interfered" Said Friedrich von Schrader."I wanted to know if she was able to handle the situation without calling the guards or showing herself as princess of Arendelle."
"Didn't you fear the reaction of the Bavarian?" Replied Otto.
"In front of half Arendelle?" The count laughed." He wasn't drunk enough. She has never been in real danger. Otto, In this kind of issues, you have to fear what a soldier can do when nobody see them instead of when everybody is watching."
"Who was that girl?" Interrupted in English the voice of Alan Halkett. He and Kurt had joined the group after looking the last part of the confrontation between Anna and the hussar from an adjacent street. Allan was looking with an astonished gaze towards the point where Anna and Kristoff had left the square.