Welcome back!
taylorjago: Thanks! :D Yeah, that's the downside to it. :( Well, I'm glad there weren't any mean comments here.
Asteroth1: Looks like I'd better watch out for the mob. Don't forget feathers for tarring and feathering. :p
Early update befpre going to school. Hope you guys enjoy it!
Thomas ran through the town, trying to avoid bumping into others. Everyone was headed for the castle; perhaps the Queen had more news on this strange illness?
As he entered the castle courtyard, he was stunned to see. . . Elsa? Was it really her? Anna stood to her right, eyes trained on her own feet in silence.
What's happening?
He moved through the crowd, apologizing profusely, until he reached the front. He tried to catch Anna's eye, but she didn't notice.
"Welcome. Thank you all for gathering here today. I have important news to tell you all."
Anxious glances were exchanged. The Queen's change in attire put them at unease. Perhaps it was her form of mourning clothes? Had something happened to Kristoff?
"You may think that I'm Queen Elsa, but you're all mistaken. My name is Queen Elise, the new Queen of Arendelle."
The reactions varied. Some watched, open-mouthed in silence, some with eyes narrowed, others with mild protests. "Wasn't Princess Anna to take the throne if anything were to happen to Queen Elsa? What's happened to the Queen?"
Elise's eyes narrowed to slits as she regarded the crowd. "Princess Anna has graciously granted me the title of Queen, as she has no experience in ruling over Arendelle. As for Queen Elsa. . . sadly, she passed away during the night."
Amid the gasps of shock, Thomas noticed that Anna shut her eyes tightly, as if in pain. "Something's not right here."
"I'm sorry, but such decisions cannot be made by one person alone. The council must also agree to this," Minister Elefsen warily spoke up.
"Do you not trust me?"
The meaning of the minister's silence was evident to everyone: no.
"Hmmph. Well, now I am able to see where Queen Elsa has gone wrong in her rule. Obviously, she has given the people too much power."
"The people and the monarchy have always worked together in peace. Queen Elsa was a wise and kind-hearted ruler," Elefsen replied firmly. "And what of Princess Anna? We haven't heard a word from her. Princess, do you truly agree to give the throne to. . . to a stranger?"
Anna looked up in surprise at being addressed. She seemed to shrink in on herself as she cleared her throat. "I-I do."
With a satisfied smirk, Elise nodded to the minister. "You have your answer."
His eyebrows furrowed in confusion. "Forgive me for being doubtful, but the Princess didn't seem sure of herself. Perhaps we could hear her side of the story?"
Anna had barely stammered out a protest before Elise spoke over her voice. "You have already heard it from me. Your Queen. Now, will I have to charge you with treason? Surely a man of such high standing wouldn't dare go against his Queen?"
"You are not my Queen. You have no right to call yourself the Queen of Arendelle. Please, Princess-"
His words were cut off as ice began to course up his legs. Shrieks reverberated throughout the air as Elefsen watched his body freeze before him in horror.
"Will you recant?" Elise coldly pronounced, watching as the ice slowly worked its way over his face.
Elefsen looked up from where he had been watching the ice race up his arms with fear before using his last breath to reply. "Never," he declared before the ice washed over his face.
The townspeople backed away from the balcony and the minister's body, eyes wide in fear as they waited for Elise's next move.
"Does anyone else feel like questioning my authority?"
Most people gave bows and curtsies immediately, while some, including Thomas, hesitated before giving a terse one of their own.
"Good. You're all dismissed. I look forward to ruling Arendelle. Come, Anna."
Elise swiftly turned and left, Anna glancing back in horror at the Minister's frozen form.
Without thinking, Thomas ran inside the castle. He wouldn't be stopped by anyone, his uniform marked him as one of the guards.
This can't be true. Queen Elsa, dead? Did. . . did this tyrant kill her? Oh no. Anna.
He made his way through the castle, heart racing and mind reeling. As soon as he turned a corner, he saw Anna talking to the new Queen outside of a guest room.
"This is where I slept, when I lived in my castle. I know you won't mind if I sleep here, right, dear Anna?"
Anna gave a small shake of her head, eyes down.
"Oh, my dear Anna."
Elise lifted up Anna's face with a finger, staring intently into her eyes. "So much like my Annika. Do you mind if I call you Annika?"
"I-I. . . no. . ."
Elise flashed her a triumphant grin. "Good." She pulled away, only to give a large yawn, arms stretching over her head. "My, taking care of royal affairs is such tiring work. I'll be here, resting until suppertime. I'll see you then, dear sister."
After she closed the door behind her, Anna's stiff posture returned to normal. She shuffled down the hallway, one hand resting on her other arm in an attempt to comfort herself.
She rounded the corner, only to find Thomas waiting for her.
"T-Thomas?" she asked breathlessly, almost in disbelief.
She wrapped her arms around him, crying into his jacket. "Oh, Thomas, E-Elsa's. . . and Olaf. . ."
"Shh, shh." He held her protectively in his arms, murmuring into her hair. He would definitely get in trouble if anyone caught him in such an intimate position with the princess. But he didn't care, all that mattered right now was keeping Anna safe and well.
Anna pulled away, only to look up imploringly into his face. "Thomas, you can't stay here. You have to get people out of Arendelle. They're not safe with her."
"I can't leave you here."
"The only thing she wants is me. She. . . she's controlling Kristoff."
"What?! How?"
"The ice in his heart, she can control it. She made him try to. . . to kill me, but Elsa, she stepped in the way. She died, in our arms. And after she died, Olaf melted away! I-I can't, I-"
"Anna." Her hysteria frightened both of them. He held onto her more tightly, as if placing them firmly on the ground, making them unmovable to foreign forces. "I. . . I'm sorry. Queen Elsa was a noble and fair ruler. But she wouldn't want this for you."
"It's my job as Princess. I have to take care of them. Who else will? You saw what she did to Minister Elefsen, what if she starts doing that to anyone else who gets in her way? The only one she won't hurt is me. She. . . she knew when she turned Kristoff on me that Elsa would protect me. That's why she did it."
Anna's voice had trailed off to an expressionless whisper.
"But who'll take care of you?!" Thomas was furious, but he understood what she was trying to say. He just hated the fact that she would be here, alone, with that witch.
She brought a hand up to his face. "I can take care of myself. And plus, Kristoff will be with me."
"He's not coming?"
"He won't go. He knows that Elise can turn him into a weapon in a second. He doesn't want to hurt anyone. He barely let me talk to him before he locked his door on me."
"I'm sorry, Anna."
She shook her head, willing herself to hold it together. What was it she had caught Elsa saying one time? Conceal, don't feel? Although, she had always been the one to tell Elsa to share her feelings.
"Looks like it's time to take a page out of your book, Elsa. The only way I'll be able to keep the people safe is to keep myself quiet when I'm with Elise. She can't know what I'm up to."
"I'll be fine, Thomas. Please, go to the other Ministers. With their help, you'll be able to get all of the townspeople out and into the forest. She'll start searching the forest as soon as she realizes you're all gone. You need to get the people living in the forests and the mountains too. Then get out of Arendelle. The closest kingdom to us that'll be willing to help us out is King Erik of the Southern Isles."
"Can we trust him?"
"He's nothing like Hans. Trust me."
Thomas felt his stomach twist into a knot. Getting all of the people out would be hard enough, but getting all of the townspeople and the rest of the people in Arendelle safely across the sea to the Southern Isles seemed an impossible feat.
"What about the castle staff?"
"I'll tell them about the plan as soon as you get the ok from the ministers. The night you guys are supposed to leave, I'll send them out. There'll only be a few here, just the night staff. It's gonna be hard to convince Kai and Gerda to leave. They've been here for so long."
"They've always cared for your family."
This simple comment brought a small smile to Anna's face. "And that's why I have to protect them. What's left of my family."
"Anna, you. . . you're going to live out the rest of your life, here? With her?"
"I'll have Kristoff for company too," she spoke in a feeble attempt at a joke.
"Anna, this is serious! You can't live the rest of your life out here, in some. . . some prison!"
Her eyes took on a distant look as she remembered memories from long ago. "I'll be okay. I've been in prison before."
Thomas closed his eyes in frustration. There had to be a way to get everyone out, including Anna and Kristoff. There just had to.
"Hey."
He opened his eyes to see Anna watching him, a pained look in her eyes along with a forced smile. "I'll be okay. Just. . . keep them safe. It's what Elsa would've done. What Mama and Papa would've done." Her eyes widened as she suddenly thought of something. "Change of plans, once you get to the Southern Isles, I want you to send a letter to Corona. I have family there, and they'll be able to help."
"The King and Queen of Corona?"
"And their daughter. The last time we met was about a couple of months ago. I'll give you a letter to send to them. I'll tell them about everything that's happened here and ask them to send soldiers. I'll give you a letter to give to King Erik asking if he can send some soldiers too."
"Okay. Are you sure they'll be able to handle her?"
"I don't know. But we have to try."
"But you'll be here for a good couple of weeks or so. With no servants around, how are you gonna survive?"
"I can cook some stuff. Plus, the goods will still be in the town."
Thomas grimaced as he pictured Anna, who always messed up recipes, cooking for herself and Kristoff. Honestly, this was the best plan they would be able to come up with. There was no chance of getting the throne back without some outside help. "Don't do anything stupid," he muttered fiercely.
"Promise." Anna brought her pinky up, and Thomas linked it with hers in response.
"I'll go tell Kristoff about the plan," Anna said as she separated herself from Thomas.
"No, I'll do it. I need to ask him something anyway."
Anna regarded him with a skeptical glance, but didn't ask anything else. "Okay. . . I'm gonna go visit Sven then. He needs the company, especially after everything that happened. And. . . I wouldn't mind having him around either."
Thomas nodded as he started to walk away. "You guys be safe. I'll meet you guys later."
"Okay. Thomas?"
He turned around to see Anna wringing her hands as she bit her lip in worry. "Be careful with Kristoff. He's not. . . really there right now. I. . ." Her last words were almost inaudible, caught faintly by Thomas' ear.
"Don't worry. I'll bring him back to us."
"Okay." She watched him leave, instantly missing his presence beside her. With the loss of so many people in such a short amount of time, she felt the need to keep the rest of the people she loved close by. She knew, though, that she would have to let them go in order to keep them safe.
"I'll have to tell Sven about the plan too. He'll go with them. It'll hurt him to be gone from Kristoff, but. . . they'll need all the help they can get."
She closed her eyes and willed herself to keep it together as she felt the tears start to form.
"Come on, Anna. Conceal it. If you cry, they won't leave. You have to let them go."
"Prince Kristoff."
Thomas rapped on the door, waiting for a response.
He heard shuffling from the other side, and Kristoff's low voice. "Who is it?"
"Thomas. Let me in, please."
"Thomas, I can't. I'm too dangerous. I-I killed her. . ."
"That wasn't you. Don't blame yourself for something you had no control over."
"You don't understand, you weren't there! You didn't watch the one you love die in your arms, because of what you did, whether or not you meant to or not! No one's safe now. She's gone, and it's all because of me!"
The guard flinched as Kristoff's voice grew louder. Images flashed through his mind: Mimmi dying in his arms, his mother watching him with eyes full of hatred as she wasted away in bed, watching Elise kill Anna before him. He shook his head, trying to shake them off before coming closer to the door.
"Kristoff, please. Anna needs you now. She's not the only one missing Queen Elsa. She needs you now, more than ever. And don't forget about Sven."
He heard Kristoff slump against the door. "But what if I hurt them?" he whispered.
"Elise won't make you hurt Anna, and I don't think she knows about Sven."
"She made me attack Anna."
"Because she knew that Queen Elsa would try to protect her. She knew that the Queen would give up her life to save her sister."
A looming pause came over them. Thomas could sense Kristoff's growing anger. "She's going to pay for everything she's done," he spoke in a dark, low tone.
He opened the door, expression stern and determined. "If she uses me again, I want you to do whatever it takes to keep Anna and Sven safe."
"But-"
"Please, Thomas. I need to protect Anna, for Elsa. I. . . she died to save her sister. I won't let her death be for nothing."
After watching him with a skeptical glance as he thought over this, Thomas complied. "Okay. I promise."
"Where's Anna and Sven?"
"In the barn. Anna's got something planned, I'll tell you on the way. Come on."