"That was different," Elsa said, as she reached the top of the stairs leading up from the Rusty Pelican. The afternoon sun shone between fluffy clouds, set in a sky washed clean. "Maybe we should have followed Kristoff's advice."
"Oh, come on!" Anna replied. "You need to learn how to have fun. Besides, the food was delicious!"
"That it was. They must keep the best and freshest catches for themselves."
Behind them, a woman screamed. "Your majesty! Look out!"
Elsa turned and saw four men, swords drawn, trying to sneak up upon her.
"She's seen us!" called out their leader. "Get her!"
Elsa froze, not sure what to do. Then she remembered Captain Lars' advice: Barricade. She raised her hands, Power flowed, and an ice wall rose up between the sisters and their attackers.
The four all skidded to a stop before the wall. One swung his sword at it, chipping the half-foot thick ice. Another spoke to the leader, "What now, Garth?"
Garth glared at him angrily, "Run around, you idiot!" Two ran to the left, while Garth and the other ran right. Elsa felt her heart pounding. She could think of nothing to do other than to create five more walls. Anna ducked just in time as Elsa swept her arms around and back, enclosing them both.
Garth stopped, regarding Elsa with squinted eyes and a deep frown. She could almost feel the hatred from the man. Garth sheathed his sword, reached to the back of his belt and pulled out two ice axes. He swung one at the wall, pulled himself up, and then planted the second one higher. Hand over hand, he began to climb.
Elsa continued building the wall up and in, roofing over the structure.
"She's trapped herself!" Garth yelled to his men, pulling his axes free and dropping to the ground. He swung at the ice, which chipped and cracked. With a second swing some ice flakes spalled off the inside, showering Anna. One large piece hit Elsa in the left arm. Eyes wide, she backed away, looking side to side for some escape. Frost spread from where her feet touched the street paving. Another swing from Garth, and the tip of one axe penetrated all the way through the ice.
Elsa extended a hand to the wall to her side, and let her Power flow. All the cracks closed, and the hole filled. Garth swung again, but to no avail. The damage he did to the ice was quickly healed.
Elsa tried to relax, allowing herself to smile. I'm doing it! I'm controlling the situation, and no one is getting hurt! Wave after wave of white Power pulsed through the ice.
"Everyone! Get your axes and swing here!" Garth indicated a spot on the wall directly facing Elsa. The other three crowded around Garth as best they could. "All together! NOW!" All the axes hit as one, shattering the ice. Shards flew in all directions. Anna covered her head, while Elsa turned away, trying to block with an arm. One fragment caught her in the temple. Stunned, she fell to her knees.
"Elsa!" Anna screamed, as she ran to her sister's side. "Are you alright?" She put an arm around her sister, trying to help her back up.
"What?"
Anna looked at the hole in the ice. The attackers continued to pound away, widening the gap. More ice showered about the inside of the enclosure. The hole was almost large enough for them to climb through.
"Elsa! You got to get up! You need to fix the wall!"
"The wall…" Elsa said, groggily. She tried to raise a hand, but could not hold it steady. Her eyes seemed to focus on nothing.
Anna stood, grimly setting herself between Elsa and the attackers. She watched as they raised their axes for a final blow.
Garth screamed in pain as an arrow struck his leg. The other three attackers turned, just in time to see a half dozen men running at them. The attackers had no time to defend; they were quickly overrun, and knocked to the ground. Several of the rescuers held the attackers down. One of them calmly walked up to Garth, a hunting bow in hand. He knocked an arrow and pointed it at Garth's head. "I think you had better drop the axes, matey."
""You don't understand! She's a monster!" Garth pleaded. "We almost had her! You would have been free of this sorceress's evil! No longer would you be living in fear of imminent death at her icy hand!"
One of the other rescuers pulled a knife. Anna recognized him as Nadir, the barkeep from the Rusty Pelican. "You insult our Queen one more time an' I'll gut you like a fish!"
Garth opened his mouth, but nothing came out. He shut it, looking stunned and confused.
Anna went back to Elsa, who was still struggling to her feet. "It's alright, we've been saved. Lay down, and rest."
"Saved? By who?"
Anna looked at the men who had come to the rescue. "I think they are the customers from the Rusty Pelican. Oh, and it looks like the village constables are coming too."
Elsa looked through the ice wall, seeing several men dressed in the deep green uniforms of the Arendelle constables. While several took custody of the four attackers, one came to the hole in the wall. "Your Majesty? Princess? Are you alright?"
"Elsa has been injured. Get that hole open and help us," Anna called out.
"I'm fine," Elsa said as she struggled to her feet. "I've had worse." One leg buckled under her, but she managed to hold onto Anna, and not fall.
"You are not fine. We need to get you to the doctor." Behind her, Anna heard the ice being broken away. Soon, two constables came in and helped bring Elsa outside.
"Lay her down here," said Anna. One of the men from the Rusty Pelican took off a jacket and used it as a pillow for Elsa's head.
Elsa looked up at all the faces crowding around, looking down at her. "You came to save me?" she asked.
Nadir spoke. "Well, we heard a commotion at the top of the stairs. Jak here went to see what it was, and said you were under attack. We could not let that happen! Sure, there have been a few problems as of late, but you are still our beloved Snow Queen."
"Thank you," Elsa said weakly.
"Did anyone think of calling the Royal Guard?" Anna asked.
"Yes," one of the constables replied. "They should be here shortly."
"Better late than never. At least they can help us get Elsa back to the castle. And we're going to need a carriage."
A few minutes later, Lars, along with four guardsmen, rode up. The guardsmen dismounted and quickly went to Elsa, moving everyone else aside. Lars talked to the constables and the others, learning about the details of the past events. A small crowd of villagers had gathered to watch.
"What do we do with this lot?" Lars asked Elsa.
Various people, from the Rusty Pelican to the assembled crowd, responded.
"Let the Queen freeze them to death!"
"Imprison them in the castle and let them rot!"
"Oh, just run 'em through and feed 'em to the fishes." Garth said.
"Yeah!" yelled several onlookers, shaking their fists in the air. "Kill them all!"
Elsa looked at the crowd; concerned they were turning into a mob. "Help me up," she ordered. The guardsmen responded.
Nadir looked at Elsa and motioned to Garth and the other attackers. "All yours, Your Majesty."
Frowning, she gave Nadir a single shake of her head, and then addressed the onlookers. "While it is true that, in times of crisis, I have the broad authority to order executions, this is not such a time. These four will be charged with two counts of attempted assassination. They will be tried in accordance to our law, and, if found guilty, sentenced." She nodded to the constables, who lead their captives off.
"Nadir, I wish to thank you and your customers for coming to my aid," Elsa said.
Anna went up to him and took his hand. "I was so relieved! When I saw them break through, I was sure it was all over. Then, you arrived! Thank you so much! Oh, I know! As a reward, you are all invited to the Royal Ball!"
"Anna…" Elsa began.
Anna quickly looked at Elsa, silencing her with a scowl, then back to Nadir. "It will be great. We're having it on Michaelmas, in a new ice palace right up there," she said, pointing to the top of the cliff to their east. "There'll be food, and music, and dancing, and everyone will be there."
"Well, that's mighty nice of you," said Nadir. "But we've never been to any fancy balls before. I don't even know what to wear."
"Oh, don't worry about that. Just dress nicely, and warmly. Elsa will be making the entire palace out of ice."
"Well, thank you. And let me just say, you are both invited to the Rusty Pelican, anytime you like."
"Thank you." Anna turned to Elsa, smiling.
Captain Lars came to Elsa's side. "Perhaps you should refrain from leaving the castle, or at least have several of the Guard with you when you go out," he suggested.
"You want to put me back in a cage?" Elsa said angrily. "I will not lock myself up again. As for guards, I do not want to cut myself off from my subjects."
"Very well." Lars walked over to the remains of the ice. He turned to Elsa, holding up his hands about three feet apart, palms facing each other. "Then, may I suggest, thicker walls."