The servants in the kitchen can hear me and Elsa laughing a mile away, as we race towards the smells of cooking food. They merely chuckle amongst themselves as they continue with their work, fixing all kinds of things for us to eat.
When Elsa and I finally enter the dining hall, I find it to be even bigger than I expected, and I figured it was going to be big. "Whoa..."
"It's pretty big, huh."
"Tchyeah!" I can't help but laugh at the smirk Elsa is giving me, playfully nudging her before being tugged towards the large table. We continue our laughter as we pull out some chairs to sit in, Kai entering the room with a warm smile of his own.
"Majesties," the man bows respectfully, creating one heck of a blush on my face when he uses the plural form, meaning he's including me on that too. Elsa tries to contain her own snickering at the situation, nudging me beside her with a sly smirk as the manservant continues. "The cooks are preparing their finest for you both, though it may take some time before everything is fully prepared."
"That's perfectly alright, Kai," Elsa answers the man. "It'll give me some time to clarify some things with Kendra, before we really get down to business after breakfast."
"But of course, Highness," the man bows again, as I eye her with slight confusion. "I shall leave you both to it then." He takes his leave back to the kitchen, presumably to alert the kitchen staff of Elsa's wishes, leaving the two of us alone again.
"...So then, Elsa, what kind of clarification do we need to go through?"
"Oh it's not much," she says while turning to me. "I just don't want you to be confused or worried is all, as you said yourself you worry too much." She gives me a teasing smirk, and I stick my tongue out at her. Just like last night, she shoots a thin beam of ice at it, making me squeak yet again. Apparently I didn't learn my lesson from the first time, but we still laugh anyways.
"Well, let's see...what's the best way to start?" Elsa ponders to herself, one hand under her chin in contemplation, and I just wait patiently. Kai said we had plenty of time, and Elsa doesn't seem to be in any huge hurry, so it must not be anything urgent.
Finally Elsa sighs, partly in defeat, and I think I sense a little fear and worry too. "Kendra, please don't think any less of me..."
I'm completely shocked. "Of course I won't Elsa! I'd never think any less of you, ever!"
My fierce words of loyalty bring a smile to the ice queen's face. "Well, I'll start with explaining why I kept you in the dark for so long. Why I never explained things in your world. The truth is, I just didn't want to scare you, and since there wasn't anything we could've done there anyways, it just seemed pointless, and I didn't want you to worry needlessly. I wanted you to be as normal as you could during the week prior to our departure."
'Of course,' I think to myself with a smirk. Elsa is always looking out for others before herself.
"I will explain more after breakfast, as I said before, but I will give you a little history to this mess now. Our enemy has sent me through the portal and into your world several times, though each time I've fought to come back. The members of my royal guard are either captured, protecting the castle, or trying to infiltrate their forces." She looks at me, eyes full of things I can't fathom. "You said yourself how cocky they are. But they are very strong, and their cockiness is well earned..." She gazes forward to an empty spot on the wooden table, eyes focused on nothing in particular.
"I have explained and strategized with my staff and guard, what the enemy has shown me with their magic. So yes, they knew that there was only one person in your world who would be able to see me, hear me, and be able to travel to Arendelle with me to help save it. Kai and Gerda then made a promise to me: if I were to be sent through the portal again, they would knock at my bedroom door each day, checking for my return to the kingdom." She smiles at me as we recall this morning, and I can't help but chuckle back with a soft, shy blush. "That's why Kai was so surprised, yet happy this morning, when I answered him, and why he was so happy to meet you. It means we can finally start to really plan on how to fight back, which is why we must wait till after breakfast, so that we can all strategize together."
I can't help but start giggling again when she brings up Kai's reaction from this morning, though I nod at the rest of her words. "So I see. Well then, that all makes perfect sense Elsa, and I'm honored that you'd look out for me like that." I give her an honest, warm smile, though still with a soft blush, as I'm not used to such special treatment. "I know exactly why you did things the way you did, and I understand perfectly, so don't worry. After breakfast, we'll get down to the real details, and how to handle these forces."
Elsa's confident and happy smile is all the reassurance I need, and after that we simply cut up and laugh and talk for the next half hour, until a woman walks into the room, and I recognize the service matron immediately when she curtsies to us. "Majesties, breakfast is ready."
"Thank you, Gerda, I know you've whipped up your very best just from the amazing smells." Elsa's face makes me start snickering; she's showing her love of food is almost as much as mine.
"And this is Miss Kendra I heard about from Kai, correct?" Her warm gaze lands on me, causing me to blush again with a shy smile, and I swear I feel like I'm shrinking in the chair.
"It is," Elsa chuckles, placing a hand on my upper back to give me a few reassuring rubs. "She still has no idea the major details of what is happening, and I'd like to keep it that way until after we've all gathered after breakfast for the actual briefing."
Gerda nods to her queen, the most serious look on her face. "I understand, your Highness. Not a word shall be spoken, and breakfast shall be its usual merry time of gathering and feasting." The smile returns to her face as her eyes twinkle with merriment, and the room is suddenly filled with servants bringing out all kinds of dishes.
The first thing I see are the fresh loaves of bread, and boy, do they look good! A plate of pork and sliced ham is set on the table next, another plate covered in cooked eggs, several pitchers and cups, and Elsa and I each get an empty plate set in front of us with utensils. My eyes are as big as saucers, though I have the grin of a child, and Elsa can't contain her amusement at my reaction. The staff serves us food, juices in our cups, before bowing to us and leaving us alone in the room.
"D-…do they expect us, to eat all of this?!"
Elsa covers her mouth with both hands, trying so hard to contain her laughter, but it still comes out in sniggers and giggles. "Just eat what you want and don't worry about the rest."
Well one thing's for sure, "Ya don't gotta tell me twice!" I grab my knife and fork, and start carving up my ham into bite-sized portions. Elsa chuckles at me while doing the same, causing yet another giggle fit between us.
I gotta tell ya, the food was amazing! Some of the best pork and ham I've ever had, and the eggs were just perfect! The bread was soft, warm, and so delicious, especially with the different jams and fruits they provided us with. The juice was fresh and sweet, and oh so refreshing!
Elsa goes to ask me how I liked the food, but she knows that it's pointless, because of how voraciously I ate everything. Such gusto, such excitement, such enjoyment! She snickers at her thoughts, while I merely lean back in the chair, my hand resting on my very full stomach, content smile on my face.
"Man, that was good~"
"I'm glad you liked it. Did you get enough?"
I chuckle as I speak, "Are you kidding me? I may have eaten too much!" We share a laugh as the servants return, clearing away the dishes from the table.
In just a few minutes, the table is clear, and both Kai and Gerda enter the room with scrolls in their hands. They both stop long enough to bow to us out of respect, before taking their seats opposite us, setting down their scrolls.
Elsa gets to her feet, and the serious look on her face actually makes me feel a little nervous. Finally, at last, everything will be fully revealed. No more skirting around things, revealing only partials. The full truth is about to come out, and I'm actually starting to get a little scared. Elsa stands at the end of the table, right beside me and her two most trusted servants, and folds her hands in front of her as she takes a moment to look at each of us. I swallow hard, sitting up straighter, starting to feel a little tension, and take a breath to calm myself.
"As you know," Elsa begins, "these dark forces have taken Arendelle under their siege, capturing my sister and a large portion of the royal guard, as well as Kristoff and Olaf." My eyes widen in shock; I didn't realize Kristoff and Olaf had been captured too! Kai and Gerda merely nod to their queen, as if this was old news to them, though they still don't look as happy about the situation. Elsa locks her gaze with me, encouraging me to brace myself for her next words. I can sense it, and I steel myself for something I never in my wildest dreams could've been prepared for.
"They call themselves the Aesir. They seemed to come out of nowhere, but with such force, like a flash flood on an unsuspecting village. They have a dark magic the likes of which even the trolls haven't seen before. They are ruthless, and will let nothing stand in their way of achieving their goal."
I swallow hard, worried after hearing that even the mystical trolls have no knowledge of how to handle them. "And, what is their goal?"
The fierce look on Elsa's face, and the deep fear in her eyes, it penetrates me to my very core. "To become gods, and rule over all worlds, all dimensions, including your world."
My eyes nearly pop out of my head, my jaw nearly crashes into my lap, as I hear these words in disbelief.
"They have knowledge of other realms, other worlds, and not just yours and Arendelle. They want to rule over everything, all worlds, all dimensions, all realms, everything in possible existence and more. They want to rule it all, and become like gods..."
I glance over at Kai and Gerda, and they are visibly shaken, though they still appear as if they already knew of this evil plot.
"Kendra, if they are not stopped, then not only will Arendelle fall, but so will your world. Not only Earth, but your entire universe, your entire dimension, and others will as well!" The sudden intensity in her voice shows her fear, but that wasn't needed, as the snowflakes dotting the air are proof enough of the queen's terror at the situation. She breathes deep and takes control of her powers, waving her hand and removing the slight frost from the air.
I for one am just in such total shock, as I find out just the severe gravity of the situation. The Aesir are trying to achieve god-like status? To rule over everything, Arendelle, and my world, and others too, and enslave us all?! I struggle to find my voice, it bursting from my vocal chords when I finally do locate it. "How the heck am I supposed to help against that?!"
All three people in my presence look at me in shock at my sudden outburst, Elsa looking the most shocked, and a little hurt. "I know it sounds impossible, Kendra... But please, please just trust me...!"
I squeeze the arms of the chair in my hands, trying to not let my quickening breathing turn into hyperventilation, fear overtaking me. "I believe you, Elsa! And I'm not going back on my word, I swear I'll help you however I can! I just, I don't see how I'm going to be able to help!" I look at her with eyes pleading for answers, begging for help, for comfort, for understanding, but she merely gazes back at me with her own eyes swirling with fear.
What on earth are we going to do now?
