Someone with a connection to Arendelle will be making an appearance in this chapter and this time, Gerda and Ingrid are ready to face the upcoming visitor.
PS: to the person called JimmyHall24, if you dislike my story, then why the hell are you reading this? Don't read it and leave then, you sadist.
Gerda and Ingrid kept wandering around and the villagers welcomed both women, especially Ingrid. They gathered around them and asked Ingrid lots of questions such as what having ice powers was like and if the royal family had magic for ages since Arendelle's foundation. Ingrid declined to answer anybody, so Gerda did all that for her.
After the village tour, Gerda and Ingrid returned to the castle. Ingrid ventured to the library to be alone again while Gerda went to see her daughters.
"How's Aunt Ingrid doing? Is your personal objective completed yet?" Elsa asked.
"It's still a work in progress, dear. However, she seems to show little hostility toward me now than when I brought her back, so I think it's working." said Gerda, noting Ingrid's less furious behavior today and the past week or two.
"Oh, I hope it is working. I just can't stand to see her like this, all hurt and depressed everyday." Anna said.
"I know, me too. I feel so stupid for making her feel that way." said Gerda.
Elsa and Anna gathered around her for support.
"Well, now you're trying to make her feel welcome at home again and I know she'll love you again." said Elsa.
"And I know she'll make a great queen if she accepts the position that belongs to her." said Anna.
Gerda was so glad that her daughters were so understanding of her issues.
"Oh, I'm so happy to have you two." she said and hugged them to calm herself down. Her daughters and husband were who kept Gerda's hopes of reconciling with Ingrid alive.
"Let's go get some ice cream! I could use some." said Anna.
"Oooh, me too!" said Elsa.
The two sisters left the room and out the castle.
Meanwhile, Ingrid sat on the sofa, staring at the rows of book while lost in thought.
While still estranged from Gerda, her anger at her was slowly declining. It still remained, but at a lower level than before. Ingrid was having trouble digesting the idea of accepting Gerda's apologies.
Then there were her nieces, Elsa and Anna. When Gerda told her Elsa had inherited ice magic, Ingrid believed at first that it was karma for betraying her. Was Elsa the reason behind Gerda's need to repair the lost relationship Gerda destroyed or was this Gerda's own doing? Would she have gone through all this even if Elsa had no ice magic?
There were times before where Ingrid hated her powers and even once considered vanishing so Helga, her runner-up for the throne, would rule. At the time, she felt Arendelle deserved a better ruler, one without powers. Helga and Gerda were the only ones who convinced her to stay.
Now she was being treated in the way she had craved for before, like the greatest thing that's ever happened since sliced bread and people are waiting to hear if she will take up the job she was destined for previously. What would her parents say if they were around?
Speaking of which, Gerda informed her during their outing that they passed away during her entrapment.
Ingrid realized that her parents lived and died without knowing about their eldest daughter's abilities and now it was too late to tell them were they still alive today. Even worse, they lived the remainder of their lives believing Gerda was their only daughter and, thanks to Gerda, Helga and Ingrid did not exist to them. If a funeral was held for them, Ingrid missed it.
Ingrid sat up to massage her back when she noticed a bottle with a note inside sitting on a desk. It was the bottle Gerda nearly threw in the ocean during her voyage back to Arendelle when she thought she and her husband were going to meet their watery end.
Ingrid opened the bottle, took out the note and read it.
Dearest darling daughters, you need to know the truth about why we went to this voyage.
It wasn't what we told you. I wish we could be telling you in person, but alas, that does not appear possible.
Elsa, Anna, time is running out. I do not know if your father and I will ever get back to you, but I need you to know we were wrong. We were wrong to tell Elsa to conceal her powers.
You must know this. I feel terrible. This happened before and I cannot let it happen again.
Years ago, I made the same mistake with my sister, Ingrid. She, like you, had ice powers. I never told you about her or my other sister, Helga. They were beautiful and kind and wonderful and I was fearful and I let that fear guide me. I made the mistake of letting Ingrid hide when I should have celebrated her for the person she was. I loved her so much.
In this crystal are the memories of my sisters which I stole from the people of Arendelle. Please return them. My sisters deserve to be known.
In a cave in the North Valley, you will find an urn that contains Ingrid. Please do what I should have done long ago and release her. She deserves to be remembered and more importantly, like you Elsa, she deserves to be loved.
When you see her, please tell her I love her and I am sorry. Tell her I would give anything to take back what I did, to hold her hand just one more time.
All my love, mama.
Ingrid's eyes welled with tears after reading the letter.
She . . . she really does love me like before, even after I tried to kill her and all the hate-influenced things I said to her, she still stands by me. Ingrid said.
Ingrid clutched the letter close to her chest like if she were hugging somebody, now aware that Gerda was telling the truth about her inner self.
"Oh Gerda. You really do care about me." Ingrid whispered.
Just then, a figure suddenly appeared before her. It was a woman, a ghost. But it was also someone familiar.
Ingrid recognized the figure. It was someone she had not seen or spoken to in years.
"Helga?" Ingrid asked.
"Yes Ingrid. It's me." said the ghost of her and Gerda's dead sister.
"Are you . . .?"
"Yes, Ingrid. I am real. This is no trick of any sort."
Ingrid then realized it really was Helga in spirit form.
Helga, I'm so sorry I killed you!" Ingrid began to say.
"There's no need to apologize, Ingrid. I know you didn't mean to kill me and I have nothing against you for it. That was a complete accident. The duke from Weselton wouldn't stop with his nasty speech about you and he pushed you to use your power. Despite my fate, you're my sister and I still love you as I did when I was alive. I came to tell you something just as important as that."
"What?" Ingrid asked.
"Please don't push Gerda and her children and husband away. They are our family. I know you're hurting now because of what she did to you, but I urge you to let her back into your life as she did with you when she freed you from the urn." Helga said.
Ingrid looked on with a sad face.
"After she released me, I told her that you would have strongly disapproved of what she did to me and I almost killed her. Was I right about you?" Ingrid asked.
"Well, of course I would have disliked what she did and I admit I probably would have been angry at her and demand your release at once. As for your killing attempt on her, I don't approve of that at all, but at the same time, I can't completely blame you for going through with it. You were in such dire rage after being hurt by her for what she did and it made you feel truly alone with no one to care for you. I also admit that if I had magic like you and she trapped me in that urn for years, I probably would have done the same thing you did. But I'm glad you spared her. She truly loves you, Ingrid. That's why she risked life and death to bring you back to Arendelle and shower onto you the loving nature she had for you which she still does to this very day." said Helga.
Ingrid's face fell from hearing Helga's speech.
"Aside from hearing your story about what really happened last time, using the power of that memory crystal of hers, Gerda went through your memories last night while you slept and saw what you told her. The visions caused her to express deep sadness and remorse over her wrong decision afterward like she did when you told her the truth and it still hurts her. She hurts just as much as you do." said Helga.
Ingrid was stunned that Gerda read her mind during her slumber and what she felt. Gerda really did mean everything she said after releasing her.
"You may have lost me, but you don't have to lose Gerda. We both love you, magic or not, and always will."
Hearing all she needed, Ingrid hugged Helga, which was possible when Helga made herself physical for a moment to hug her back to show her love for her misunderstood sibling.
"Thank you Helga for seeing and convincing me." said Ingrid.
"So, do you accept Gerda back into your life?" Helga said.
"Yes, I do. I love her again. I really miss you." Ingrid said. Tears strolled down her cheeks.
"That's wonderful news and don't worry about missing me. I'll always be with you. Now go and embrace Gerda, our family and living. I had a great time living. Now, it's your turn and when you and Gerda pass on one day, I'll be waiting for you both." Helga declared.
Helga vanished and Ingrid was alone again, teary eyed from both sadness and happiness. Now that Ingrid knew what Helga's wishes were and after speaking with her, Ingrid's grudge against Gerda died instantly and in its place formed a need to accept her reconciliation offer.
I must see her right away! She has to know! Ingrid thought and ran out of the room to meet with her.
As she turned a corner, she saw Gerda standing in the throne room speaking to someone. Someone who, like Helga, she also had not seen for a while.
The person she spoke to was a man who looked vaguely familiar to Ingrid.
After looking at the man's face, she suddenly recognized who it was.
Seeing that person brought back terrible memories for Ingrid. What was he doing here?
Gerda was busy looking at the paintings in the throne room. They were paintings of Arendellian culture and rulers of past and present times.
Just recently, she ventured into a secret room in the castle that contained past mementos and rediscovered a painting she had not seen in a long time. It was a painting of Helga, Ingrid and herself standing together in a pose. Gerda remembered the time it was created. It was one of the best times of their lives.
She picked it up and brought it out to be put on display in the throne room. She had it locked away in a part of the castle after the incident with her sisters, but now she wanted the painting back as part of her new life with Ingrid and as a memorial for Helga.
Speaking of memorials, Gerda just realized that she and her family have not held a funeral for the late Helga. How stupid of her to forget after returning Helga's existence to everybody! That quickly joined her list of important tasks she wished to accomplish.
She frowned when she found a painting of Helga's former lover, the duke of Weselton, hidden inside the same room. Years back, Helga had it made as a present for the duke and, like the sisters' painting, Gerda sealed it away also.
Because of her new-found knowledge of him and the diabolical nature of what he did, Gerda figured that Helga would want the painting gone if she were still living and now so did she.
Gerda took the painting out, found a servant and ordered the now-unworthy portrait to be destroyed in any way possible and the servant complied and in a moment, the tainted gift was gone, never to be seen again.
It was during this time that a palace guard appeared to her.
"Your Highness. I come with news." he said.
"What is it?" Gerda asked.
"There's a visitor demanding to see you right away." said the guard.
"Who could it be?" she asked.
"It's, forgive me for saying this, the duke from Weselton. He says he wants to have a word with you." the guard answered.
This struck a nerve in Gerda and she realized that when she restored the memories of Ingrid and Helga back to everyone, she must have also returned his memories too by mistake. If that's true, then Gerda instantly had a strong guess to why he was in Arendelle. His business probably involved Ingrid and Helga.
As much as she wished to kick the duke out immediately, she would allow the duke access to visit her, but only because she wanted to take this opportunity to verbally avenge Helga and Ingrid for what he did.
Now that she was aware of the man's dark history with her sisters, she prepared herself to defend them, especially Ingrid, from whatever backlash he had in store. This time, she was ready.
"Send him into the throne room. If it's an audience he wants, then he shall have it." Gerda said in a light cold tone. As much as she didn't want to see the duke, she had unfinished business with him.
"At once, Your Highness." said the guard and left to fetch the man while Gerda headed for the throne room.
How dare that man return to Arendelle! I should have him thrown in the dungeons or perhaps executed for all the nasty things he did previously or just for even coming here! Gerda thought angrily as she made it to the throne room where she was to meet Helga's former fiance in person.
Since she didn't pass any laws forbidding the duke from coming back to Arendelle, technically, he was not trespassing and his visit was legal.
Gerda would make sure it would be.
I won't let him hurt you again, Ingrid. Today, things will be handled differently. She thought with determination.
She was glad that her daughters were not around the castle to see or hear this. She had a feeling things were going to get ugly.
She had no idea that Ingrid was observing from a hidden place within that same room.
Minutes later, the great hall doors burst open and in stepped four people. Three of them were palace guards.
The other was the man who was the reason her family crumbled. The duke of Weselton.
It had been years since he was last seen in Arendelle. His current appearance was of an older man. His hair was now white and his facial skin was wrinkled with age. And to think Helga was engaged to this poor excuse for a man.
"Unhand me, you blundering oafs!" the duke said to the guards, tugging at his restrained arms from their grasps.
By the time they reached where Gerda stood, they released him and stood by in case the "guest" stirred up trouble. They easily guessed their regent's negative thoughts of the foreigner and sarcastically wished the duke luck with dealing with Gerda.
Like Ingrid, the duke didn't recognize Gerda at first because of her older appearance, but not as old as he was.
Gerda knew this and opened her mouth to speak.
"In case you do not recognize me, Your Grace, it's me, Gerda. The sister of your dead fiance, the late Helga." she said.
The duke fixed his eye wear until he could focus and he realized who the woman was.
"Queen Gerda. It's a pleasure to meet with you again. It's been so long." he said politely, bowing slightly.
"It's 'Regent' now, Your Grace. A month ago, I resigned from my position as queen of Arendelle as did my husband from his position as king who is now a prince and regent alongside me and it has been so long indeed." Gerda said in the same blank tone.
"So, the rumors are true? From kingdoms beyond yours, talk was spread that you and King Agnarr, were no longer the rulers of this kingdom. I thought the people who began such a tale were joking." he said.
"Well unfortunately, they're not joking. They're right. Arendelle is currently under regent rule until the rightful heir to Arendelle's throne accepts my former post as the new ruler." Gerda explained.
"Yes, your daughter, Princess Elsa. I've heard of her. I bet she cannot wait until her time to rule comes. She'll make an excellent queen, indeed." said the duke.
"What makes you think I was talking about Elsa?" Gerda asked.
"But Elsa is the firstborn in the family, is she not?" the duke asked.
"Yes, but despite that, she is not whom I speak of." said Gerda.
"Well then, what about Princess Anna? If Elsa is not the next queen, then your second daughter surely must be."
"Anna is not the next heir either. See, neither of my daughters are inheriting the throne and they are fine with it." Gerda said sternly, warming the duke up for her upcoming announcement. She wanted to mess with him a little bit first.
"But that makes no sense, Your Highness. Elsa and Anna are your only heirs. If you and Agnarr are not the rulers anymore, then one of them has to be next." said the duke.
"Well, you're right and wrong at the same time. While our daughters are heirs, it does not mean they're taking our place. However, there is one other person who is eligible for the job."
"What? But . . . but Helga . . . Helga is dead and Agnarr has no family besides you and your daughters." he said, thinking she was talking about Helga who he now remembers.
"I know that Helga is deceased, but I was not talking about her, either. The individual that I speak of is another member of my family. The one person who is, was, and always will be, meant to inherit the crown since the day of this person's birth. You should know, you met this person once before long ago."
The duke remained puzzled at first. He had no idea who else could possibly take Gerda and Agnarr's place as ruler of Arendelle.
Then it hit him when he realized who Gerda was talking about.
"You . . . you mean . . .?" he stuttered.
"That's right, Your Grace. The mystery heir I speak of is none other than my eldest sister, Ingrid."
The duke's jaw dropped and his eyes went wide in shock and some horror.
"In-Ingrid!?" he asked in bewilderment.
"Yes. Ingrid is the true queen of Arendelle and I am willing to pass the crown to her." said Gerda, satisfied at the duke's reaction to hearing Ingrid's name.
"But . . . but . . . but . . ." the duke stammered.
"I know what you're thinking. Like my late sister, I too was aware of Ingrid's ice powers since we were children. Despite that, we still loved and accepted her as part of the family and we never regretted every moment we spent together as we grew up in harmony."
"You knew, too? All this time, you and Helga harbored a witch?" he said frantically.
"Hey, watch your tongue! Ingrid is no witch! She's a creator of beautiful magic!" Gerda snapped from the duke's comment.
"'Beautiful magic'?! She tried to kill me with those unholy abilities of hers and instead, she killed Helga, her own sister! Your own sister!" he bellowed.
"Ingrid's magic is not unholy! It's very lovely and there's absolutely nothing wrong with it! As for Helga's death, that was completely unintentional. She died because you used her as a shield after you provoked Ingrid with your snide comments about her being a monster after she refused to kiss you and exposed her powers to you! That's right, I know all about what really happened that day! How, you wonder?"
She pulled out one of the magic stones from her dress pocket and presented them to the duke.
"These are magic crystals. After Helga's death, I used them to pull out, and store away, the memories of her and Ingrid out of the minds of everyone who knew them, you included. That was one of three decisions I now regret ever making. That's why you came to Arendelle to speak to me, because you now remember them again and you believed you were here to warn me about so-called 'dangerous ice monster of Arendelle'. when I knew about Ingrid's ice powers all along. Plus, thanks to the stones, I was able to see, from Ingrid's eyes, what you did all those years ago. Because of you, I accused Ingrid of intentionally killing Helga and I unjustly imprisoned her inside a magic urn! By doing that, I abandoned her, something that Helga and I once promised we would never ever do, and she remained incarcerated for years until last month I released her and brought her back after I realized the grave injustice I made with her."
"Wait, Ingrid's here, in this castle, right now?" he asked.
"Yes. Ingrid is back and everybody throughout Arendelle is accepting of her. In fact, after my resignation, everyone has been eager to have her as their new queen." Gerda said.
"She's the new queen?"
"Not yet. She's still readjusting to Arendelle after being in an urn for too long and has yet to make a decision. I don't blame her for taking her time, but I'm confident that she will want the job because she deserves it. Plus, I don't blame her for Helga's death because it was never her fault in the first place."
These words would surely bring anyone with compassion and sympathy to tears.
But the aging man standing before the former queen was not one of them.
"Why on earth did you free her? You did the world a favor by trapping that inhuman abomination away where she belongs! Releasing her was a big mistake."
Now Gerda became really, really infuriated by his blasphemous remark.
"How dare you say such a horrible thing about my sister! That's it! This meeting is over! I hereby banish you from Arendelle forever and, as of today, all trade between our kingdoms is over! Arendelle will no longer and forever do business of any sort with 'Weaseltown'!" Gerda declared angrily.
"It's pronounced 'Weselton'! Helga said the same thing before she died!"
"Well, I applaud her for that!" said Gerda.
"You can't do this to me! We've been trading partners for ages! You're harboring a menace to society and she must die before she kills anyone else!" said the furious and insane duke.
This had gone on long enough.
"GUARDS!" Gerda shouted at the top of her lungs, having enough of the man's verbal assault.
The same guards who escorted the duke to see Gerda returned.
"Yes, Your Highness?" they asked.
"Get this scoundrel out of my sight! He is no longer welcome here and make it that our trading service between Arendelle and Weselton is defunct indefinitely!" she ordered.
"It shall be done, Your Highness."
Gerda turned to the duke and said, "One more thing. If you are spotted anywhere in this kingdom again, you will be punished to the fullest extent of the law! Perhaps I will let Ingrid do to you what you made her do to Helga!" Gerda threatened.
"You're going to regret this, Gerda! You hear me! You and your witch sister! At least your daughters don't have Ingrid's abhorrent sorcery in them!" the duke yelled as the guards dragged him away.
"Wrong again! My Elsa has ice magic, too! Everyone knows about her and I'm happy for her! You may have killed Helga, but in a way, that also makes you part of the reason Elsa inherited her fantastic abilities!" Gerda taunted with pride.
"WHAT!?" the duke yelled, but before he can say anymore, the doors closed and he was gone. His yelling could be heard from elsewhere, but the walls and closed door muffled his voice.
When the coast was clear, Gerda remained standing. Her anger then dimmed down and she sat on the throne chair in exhaustion. At least she got him at the last second.
Ingrid couldn't believe what she just saw and heard. The duke returned just to persecute her and Gerda, even without Ingrid around, stood up for her against the angry man.
The letter was further true.
Now convinced, Ingrid stepped out of her hiding place and approached Gerda.
"Ingrid? What are you doing here?" Gerda asked when she saw her.
"I . . . I heard everything. I saw how you defended me in front of that maniac." Ingrid said.
"You did?"
Ingrid nodded, her face now showing sadness and her emotion flakes poured over her.
"Oh Ingrid, I'm so sorry you heard him say those awful things about you. Please don't let any of that get to you. He's just a senile old man who can't stand magic folks."
She then hugged Ingrid to calm her down. "What he said about you is all false. Like I said weeks ago, you're not a witch or monster and never will be."
Remembering her reason for coming here, Ingrid began to speak again.
"Gerda, I . . . I . . . I need to speak with you about something important. I was coming to tell you until . . . this happened."
"What is it?" Gerda asked.
"It's about our relationship."
"What about it?"
Ingrid took out the letter and gave it to Gerda.
"Good lord, I completely forgot about this. Where did you find it?"
"In the library in a bottle."
Gerda read her own writing.
"I wrote this on the night we were sailing back to Arendelle. I wanted to tell my daughters about you and our history with magic, but then a storm hit and I believed we were going to die at sea. So I wrote this letter, sealed it in a bottle and prepared to toss it into the ocean, hoping that my knowledge of you would reach them. Then the storm died out before I could throw it and we were able to sail back to Arendelle without incident at the cost of some of our sailors. When we got back, I stored the bottle in the library and had not seen it until now. I meant every word I jotted down on this piece of paper regardless of whether or not I survived the storm. Before that, I was on a mission to find a way to cure Elsa of her magic, but then I had second thoughts after realizing that I was repeating what I did to you and so I quit my task and requested to sail back home. That's how I was able to find and release you." Gerda said, her eyes teary again.
"I thought about what's been going on between us. All the things you said and did for me after bringing me back into the world and . . . well . . . I'm beginning to see that I have been too harsh with you in spite of all the good you've done for me."
Gerda realized that Ingrid was sounding apologetic this time instead of quiet or moody.
"I was clouded by anger and vengeance from my long imprisonment and a few minutes ago, I realized that I'm pushing you away after all you've done for me and . . . and . . ."
Ingrid's voice started to crack from emotion, she couldn't finish her sentence.
Gerda caught on to what Ingrid was trying to say, hoping that it was the one thing she craved from her for weeks.
"Ingrid? Are . . . are you saying that you're finally willing to reconcile?" she asked.
"Yes!" Ingrid blurted out and she immediately reached her arms out and hugged Gerda, crying her eyes out. Normally, Gerda was the hugger and now it was Ingrid who had become the hugger. In a way, this was, technically, the first time in years that Ingrid embraced Gerda since she never actually hugged her or anyone since returning.
Gerda gasped in surprise and joy. She was finally happy to see Ingrid doing this.
"Oh Ingrid!" Gerda said and returned the embrace.
"I'm so sorry I was mean to you." said Ingrid.
"It's okay, Ingrid. You couldn't help it and you had every right to act that way to me after the personal crime I committed against you. It's me that is sorry for making you that way. In a way, I hurt myself." said Gerda.
Ingrid could not stop sobbing and neither could Gerda. This was a really touching moment that either one thought could never happen. Gerda finally achieved her goal of winning Ingrid back. Along with having Elsa and Anna and being married to Agnarr, this was the best day of her life.
The two released their hug.
"How can you still love me even after I tried to kill you back in that cave and such?" Ingrid asked.
"Because I can and while I was frightened, I can't entirely reject you for it. But now we can start over and be sisters again! So will you stay with us forever?" Gerda asked.
"Yes! Yes, I will! It's so good to be home!" Ingrid said.
"It feels so good to have you back, Ingrid! I love you so much!"
"So do I and I love Elsa, Anna and of course Agnarr! They're my family too and I'm now glad to have met them!" Ingrid said happily.
"I'm so happy to hear you say that! I thought I had lost you forever, but not anymore!"
For a moment, both said no words, letting their sobbing die down.
"So Gerda. Is that queen position still available?" Ingrid asked.
Gerda's face brightened up. "You . . . you want to take my place as queen?"
"Yes, I do. Arendelle needs a new ruler and I'm up for it now."
"That's terrific! We must prepare. Everything must be set up. Invitations must be sent. Guards!" Gerda yelled.
Two different guards appeared.
"Yes, Your Highness?" they asked.
"Great news! Tell all within and beyond Arendelle that another coronation ceremony is to take place! My sister here has finally made her decision! Arendelle is going to have a new queen!" Gerda said happily.
The guards perked up.
"Yes, at once Your Highness!" they said and scrambled away to spread the word.
"There's so much to do! So much planning! So many invites to send!" Gerda said frantically.
"Gerda, relax. We will get it all done. One step at a time." Ingrid said. She noticed that Gerda was starting to sound like Anna. No wonder Anna had a hyper personality.
"I know, I know. Still, we have to make this celebration perfect! You deserve one!" said Gerda.
The two sisters left the throne room to help spread the word.
Ingrid has forgiven Ingrid at long last and is now going to be crowned the new queen of Arendelle! Bring out the balloons, the pizza, the drinks, the everything! Especially the chocolate!
"Chocolate? Did you say . . . chocolate?!"
"Yes sir! With or without nuts."
"Chocolate . . . Chocolate . . . CHAWCOLAAAAAATE! CHAWCOLAAAAATE! CHAWCOLAAAAAAAAAAAATE!"
The duke has returned, but for a brief moment and now he's finally gotten what he deserved for many years. He'd better stay away from Arendelle or . . . let's just say someone's gonna want to build a snowman with him if ya know what I mean. Helga is finally avenged . . . minus any fighting or bloodshed.
