"Me? Princess? I'm sorry you must be mistaken..." you glance around nervously between Elsa and Rita.
Elsa seems just as surprised as you are. Rita stands up and stares at your face intensely.
She shakes her head, "There is no mistake here."
You don't know what to say. You're just staring at her in disbelief. How could you, be a princess of Kadien? How did you end up in Arendelle? And Why?
Rita sighs, "Come. I'll show you...Kadien,"
She shuffles out of the small cove and back into the open. The stranger glances around then motions that the coast is certainly clear. The men must all be far off by now. You're a little shaken as you try to take in both the attempted apprehension and the unbelievable claim made by Rita. Elsa twines her fingers with your trembling ones and leads you outside.
Your wolf pokes his head out and whimpers.
"It's best if he stays here. He'll attract attention in town." Rita suggests, referring to your great wolf.
You hesitantly agree. You tell him to stay and that you and Elsa will be back for him soon. He simply whimpers again and ducks back inside the cove to rest. You praise him before you and Elsa pull up your hoods and follow Rita.
It's not long before the sight of town comes into view.
You and Elsa are filled with distress as you observe the town. The kingdom itself was impoverished. Houses and shops were charred of walls and roofs, leaving no shelter for the people. Citizens littered the streets and the broken buildings, covered in battered clothing, struggling to find food, and trying to soothe their crying, hungry children.
"Oh god…" you say under your breath.
If this was truly your kingdom…you must have been a harrowing ruler. You feel your knees buckle, but Elsa holds you up. She's holding your hand tightly as she takes in the sight herself. Your whole body is trembling now, and you are on the verge of crying as you look at the barren town.
Elsa tries to comfort you, "(Name)..."
A little girl is suddenly running up to Rita, calling her name.
"You're back! Did you find anything?" the girl beams.
Rita smiles sorrowfully at her, "No…I'm sorry. I promise I'll find something yummy for you guys, alright?"
You feel your heart break as the little girl furrows her brows in disappointment. Then she takes Rita's hands into hers.
She bursts with an optimistic smile, "It's okay! We'll be okay!"
Rita smiles again and hugs her, "Atta' girl. We'll definitely be okay," Rita glances at you with a hint of hope.
The little girl eyes you curiously after Rita pulls away. You flinch as she skips up to you.
"Hi!" she says
"Hi-Hi me? Uh…hello there." you awkwardly respond.
She ducks down to peek at your face, "You're pretty!"
This little girl is just so cheerful it breaks your heart even more to know that she's living in this desolate kingdom.
"Thank you…" you give her a watery smile, "You're pretty too."
Rita pats the girl's head, "Hey now. Run along and take care of your mother, okay?"
The little girl grins, "I will!" and she runs off to her mother, who is sitting on a tattered blanket, weak and sick.
You bite down on your lip as your eyes tear up.
Rita looks to you and places her hand firmly on your shoulder, "This is not your fault."
"H-How could it not be? Everyone is suffering…and it must be because of me," you choke out.
"Princess…you…you really don't remember anything?" Rita asks.
"No…" you whimper, "I've only seen these images in my dreams…but to think they were real…"
"Your dreams?" Rita asks.
"Yes…Rita, please. Tell me what happened…has Kadien always been like this?"
Rita looks around and exhales, "No."
You bring your hand up to cover your mouth. There is a knot in your throat and you feel tears threatening to pour out. The condition of the kingdom is killing you inside and you want to do something about it…but what can you do?
"Prince Hans…it's him, isn't it?" Elsa suddenly asks. She steps up to Rita, demanding an answer.
Rita can't help but notice how Elsa's fingers are curled in yours, "Yes. The nefarious, cruel, Prince Hans."
You feel Elsa's hand growing cold in yours, "Elsa…"
"Hans…" Elsa mutters. Her eyes are flaring with anger.
"You mentioned his name earlier in the cove…right?" Rita asks, "You know of him?"
"Yes," Elsa looks to you, "He manipulated my sister and attempted to usurp my kingdom of Arendelle."
You gasp, "…attempted?"
Rita realizes Elsa is a queen of a powerful kingdom, "So then this was his second endeavor…and this time…he succeeded."
"Why would he…" you start, "Kadien—"
"Princess (Name)…he executed your parents to usurp the throne." Rita confesses.
You feel yourself suffocating as a sudden memory comes jolting back into your brain, "Oh god…no."
Unable to take it anymore, you fall to your knees. Everything is coming back to you. The simple mentioning of the death of your parents has triggered everything that has been locked away in the back of your head.
"No…no…I remember." Your head is prickling with pain as you recall your memories.
You remember growing up in a beautiful castle surrounded by a marvelous town filled with jolly people. You remember the parents who spent every day raising you, and the many citizens who you conversed with and interacted with. And then you remember the night of the seize. The blood of your parents, and the look of the heinous man wielding the blade.
"You're our Queen now, (Name)…we can take back Kadien. We can rebuild." Rita turns to Elsa and bows, eyes watery, "Please…help us, Queen Elsa."
Elsa nods, "I will do everything in my power to help take Kadien back from Hans."
You feel a sense of responsibility course through you when you hear Elsa's statement. Elsa's come all this way with you, she's comforted you, and now she wants to help you take back what was once yours. You stand up with courage and wipe away your tears with your sleeve. You have to be brave, for yourself, for Elsa, for your people.
"Enough of Han's savagery. I'm taking Kadien back." you announce.
With Elsa by your side, you know what path to walk.