Love for Elsa

by JTyrney6168

What if Queen Elsa's ice powers were the result of a chance meeting on a road where a stranger saves a dying woman after a wolf attack? What if Queen Elsa was never meant to be born? 1st four chapters set up the stranger.

10. Chapter 9 Threat to the King

Chapter 9: Threat to the King

Date: 25 years, 9 month before Correction

Sam mentally takes notes of all he sees to create an internal map of this castle, specifically the floor plan and the location of each guard. Ingrid leads him into a large room. A spiral staircase rises at one end and a split staircase ascends at the other end. A short foyer extends from the main doors. Across the room under the split stairs, she leads him down a short hallway and into a large room as compared the Captain's office. A large, sturdy wood desk dominates the room. Two smaller tables, one with four chairs and the other with maps occupies a quarter of the room. Books occupy a third of the room. The window behind the desk appears to face the wall across the courtyard. She watches him observing the room.

"Most people who come in here usually admire the desk or ask why this table has chairs while the other table does not, but you studied the window, why?"

He points an open hand to the window. "May I?"

"Yes," she answers with a nod.

He slides past the desk and glances at the chair pushed under the desk. In front of the window, he notes everything, then moves to the left side of the window. He bends his head down to the height of about one and three quarter's meters. A person at this height would see the back of the barracks and the area where the meals are served. If she was at the window, she would have seen him attack Otto. He notes the position of the guards on the wall. The person sitting in the desk chair would be an easy target. He presses his face against the window and closes his eyes for several seconds. The energy in the castle and the wall transmits into him, but more importantly he feels the people. He moves past the desk and stands by the map table.

"Why did you look under the desk when you went to the window, but not when you came back?"

He turns to her and observes her mannerisms. She stands with her hands crossed in front of her. Her weight is evenly distributed, but her left foot is mostly in front of the other. Her stare is intense, but not hostile, almost as though she is studying him for his responses. He clasps his hands behind his back and shifts his weight with his feet at shoulder width apart. She watches him the whole time. Other than slight movements of her head she does not move.

"I survive because I look where others do not. While I did not see anyone under the desk, if there is someone there, they have great skills in contorting their body or they are very small. So which is it?"

"Neither, no one is under there and yet I have no doubt you have learned a lot about us and I know very little about you." She moves to the table and sits in the largest chair. She motions to the chair with its back to the door. "Come sit."

"I like standing."

"Suit yourself." She watches for several moments. "Why did you hold your hand against the window and close your eyes?"

"It helps me to become one with the castle."

"Why?"

"So I will know what the castle knows."

"And the blue glow reflecting on the window where your eyes were, helps you to see what the castle sees?"

He stares at her with intent. Her posture has not moved except the slight upward curvature of the corners of her lips and her head position is more towards the door.

"I have seen those who use a slide of hand to perform tricks and call it magic. The blue is not a slide of hand. It appears to be a part of you. What magical creature are you?"

How do I explain that science did this to me? Do I tell you the truth?

"That would be nice."

"What would be nice?"

"The truth." Her lips curve higher.

"I am a human male. There is no magic about me."

Her head slightly moves side to side. "It is personal to you. I understand. Answer the easier question. Why did you bend down by the window?"

He glances to the window. Are you Sariphan? If you are, why do I not detect your traits?

She continues to stare at him.

"I was determining what a person would see if they were there a half hour ago."

"And what would they have seen?"

"Me."

"What would you have been doing?" Her right brow flicks up.

"Defending the Queen's honor, it seems not all like you." She does not move nor does she blink at the comment. You have heard these things before, haven't you? He gives her a slight smile. Are you probing for the king?

"Before the King arrives, what was done that my honor needed defending?" She looks at her hands.

"The private made a disrespectful comment about you. I don't know you or your husband's politics well enough to form an opinion. Even if you are the present rulers, I need more information to determine if his comments are justified. In the meantime the King and Queen of this kingdom will get the respect deserving of their positions."

She does not flinch at his comments.

Has she been threatened before? She is staring at me as though she is searching my soul. Are you a creature in human form only? Reveal yourself, who are you?

A knock from the door breaks the staring contest and both blink to the reality. She waves the servant girl to bring in the tray. The server places a plate and cup in front of Ingrid and one of each in front of the two empty chairs. She curtsies to the Queen then leaves the room. He looks at the seat with its back to the door, then glances back at Ingrid.

"I'm not sitting there."

"Then you do not eat," she commands.

"Then there is no reason for me to be here." He bows and moves towards the door.

The King meets him at the door. "Ah private, I heard you created a disturbance this morning." He points to the chair with its back to the door. "Come sit with us. I am sure you have not had breakfast yet."

"No sir, I have not eaten, but I will not sit in that chair."

The King stares at him for a moment. "I could order you to sit there."

"Go ahead, I will not sit there."

The King lowers his voice, "I am your King and you will obey."

He slides his left hand behind his back and his body stiffens. "You rule Arin-de-Elle. You're not my king." His voice increases in volume as he points to the window. "You rule them."

Ingrid touches the King's arm and comments to Sam, "The kingdom is named Arendelle. I am familiar with Arin-de-Elle."

Sam turns his head sharply towards her. The sudden movement appears to catch Ingrid off guard by her flinch. He sighs. "Has this been a test?"

"What are you talking about?" she asks.

"You're a terrible liar."

"How dare you," protests the King as he places his hand on his waist where the sword would have been.

"Go ahead and call the three guards standing just down from the door. You will be responsible for their deaths. If you don't believe me, ask your wife what happened on the day of the first snow storm that lasted six days. Or did she forget to tell you?"

Ingrid stands next to the King as she grabs his arm. "My dear, he is right. My statements were not correct." She looks at Sam. "My King is fully aware of the incident. We had to make sure." She takes her husband's hand and places her other hand on his shoulder. "Is he not what I said?"

The King squeezes his wife's hand. "You are correct my dear." He speaks to him, "How did you see the deceit?"

He gives her a slight smile. "You're very good. If you do that to the other visitors, I see you taking advantaged of them. Maybe we were at a standstill with neither willing to give. To break the equilibrium one must do the unexpected." He nods to the King. "I took a chance. I believe Arin is your great-grandfather."

The King asks, "What do you know about him?"

"He rallied the people here and the surrounding area to fight a lost battle with the Warring King. That is until the trolls helped him."

"What trolls?" the King asks.

"You two stop. You invited me here. If you had not stopped along the road, we would not be having this conversation." He glances away from them. "And maybe the wolves would not have attacked your coach. I would still be out there and you feasibly would be dead by now."

"Then why are you still here?" Ingrid asks as she touches his arm.

He stares at her hand. "I don't know."

"Now who is the liar?"

He stares at her abdomen for a moment, then looks up. "The logic says it's impossible and yet I was there and saw it happen." He glances between them. "You will have a little girl very different from all of the girls in your kingdom. She will stand out and everybody will see who she is."

The King asks, "Why did you not leave last night?"

"It is because your little girl has touched my heart and I can't leave. You're in danger which puts her in danger." He shakes his head. "Somehow she is a link to my mission of building a bridge between our kingdom and hers."

He steps back and stands tall. "Either I'm a threat to you or I'm not. I can walk out of here and wait for the next rulers to take over." He steps closer to them and speaks with a whisper, "Hopefully you know your castle has ears, but do you know who is listening?"

He motions to Ingrid. "You have a vested interest in her health as your wife. I have a vested interest in her health due to your child. Before yesterday's encounter on the road, I had no interest in the monarch of Arendelle. I would have watched from the hills and have seen your castle burned by those who wish to remove you. Today is different. The one who strikes down the Queen will die along with a hundred of the assassin's immediate families. There will be no place for them to hide. The one who starts this, will see the results of their deeds that I promise to the both of you."

A knock on the door sounds behind him. "Your Majesties, please pardon the intrusion, but I have been requested to retrieve this private back to the Captains office."

"It is no trouble sergeant. We are through here." The King replies.

Sam bows to the both of them and follows the sergeant out the room.

Several minutes later, he stands in front of the Captain's door. In the sleeping area Otto and another guard talk as they stare at him.

"Get on with it, private," commands the sergeant.

He knocks on the door and waits. A minute passes before the door opens. He hesitates barely a second to scan the room. Sensing only two humans he enters and stops in front of the desk. The door slams shut. In the chair behind the desk sits a defeated man. With his shoulders forwards and a sunken chest, Sam sees the blood vessel in his neck pulsing rapidly. His chin touches his chest and he appears to be reading a one sentence note. He doesn't try to hide it. Sam glances down at the note.

A couple of minutes passes. The sergeant behind him clears his throat. "Sir, Samuel Ryan is here."

With a deep breath and a long sigh, Captain Thorsen leans back in his chair as he looks up at him. "Would I be wasting my time asking what you saw last night before coming into the barracks?"

"No, sir, you would not be wasting your time."

"Tell me what happened?"

"I finished washing the horse smell out of my clothes when I heard three individuals walk down the front steps. I focused on the three. A few minutes later it was almost dark. One walked down the near side of the building and the other two walked down the far side. The back door opened and I ducked behind the wash barrel, obviously to create a distraction then the door closed. The one walked towards me. We talked while his two friends tried to sneak behind me. I forced the private's face into the water. I let him up for air just as Ulf and Sverre charged me. I flipped the private into the two and they laid on the ground. I could have left them there, but if I'm going to stay around here, I will not be the bottom rung of the latter. I'll move up to the top, so I had to send a message to the informal leader."

"You should have left when you had the chance." Thorsen slightly nods as he continues, "The intended target received the message."

"Could you have chosen a discreetly better method than leaving them without their clothes?" Sergeant Njord asks standing by the door.

"What did they say?"

The Captain shakes his head. "They don't remember walking out the barracks, let alone how the mushrooms got onto the table next to them. No one has complained nor said anything about you. As far as I'm concerned, unless someone files a complaint or provides additional information, this is closed." The Captain takes off his guard's hat and he nods to him. Sam understands the hat off means everything said until he puts it back on is unofficial. "Questions, comments, or any other information you wish to speak?"

He agrees to the Captain's conditions. "When I walked into the barracks last night, four guards actually seemed surprised that I walked in. This morning Otto appeared surprised to see me in my bunk and his friends outside."

"Be careful of Otto," comments the sergeant. "His family has enough money to buy all of the guards."

He glances over his shoulder. "Including you two?"

"I have been approached several times, but for what they want they are crossing the line," Njord comments.

He watches the Captain, but Njord continues, "They tried to bribe the Captain when he was a sergeant, but he did his duty and reported them to the previous King. Otto's older brother ran the ring just like Otto does now."

Thorsen interrupts, "His name was Peter. I thought he could have become a sergeant then a Captain, but he did not wish to wait. He started recruiting the other guards. After several months they talked about taking over the castle. I reported it to the King. The trial lasted one day. Five of them were hanged, but Peter's father bargained for his son's release, so the King banished him. Last I heard he was living in the kingdom of Weselton. A year after King Agnarr took over, Peter's father thought he could get the King to revoke the banishment, but he refused. Peter's father, Councilman Jens was in poor health and could not travel. He developed a venomous hatred for the King."

The Captain stares at him as if he was staring through him. "Did you know the ship the previous King and his Queen traveled belonged to the Jens' company? It's too bad they did not know that before they sailed. The official report said the ship capsized in a storm."

"You don't believe it, do you?"

"No, I do not. Losing one ship only inconvenienced Jens. I don't have any proof, but I believe Jens was involved. I didn't watch my back when I confronted the old man. His youngest son stabbed me in my side with a short blade. If it was longer I would not be talking to you now."

"The Jens family has always given King Agnarr's family problems," comments Njord.

"Have you reported this to the King?"

"He knows," Njord continues. "Three of the four richest families are partners with Jens being the richest. They could collapse Arendelle's economy overnight. That's why they are treated more like royalty than the King and Queen."

The Captain blinks and focuses on him. "You are here at the wrong time. Saving the Queen yesterday threw their plans off. That's why you were attacked last night. You are the unknown variable. They had to get you out of the way before proceeding. I can do very little for you. Most of the day guards have accepted their bribes."

He interrupts, "You have to tell the King his life is in danger."

"The moment I walk outside the barracks, they will wait. When I'm halfway to the castle they will attack."

"You're going to sit here and do nothing," He growls at him.

Njord interrupts, "As long as he is in here, they wait. It will give you some time to get the King and Queen out of the castle, but they will not wait long. You want to help them, go now."

Sam gradually nods. A knock on the door breaks the tension. The Captain puts on his hat and Njord opens the door. A guard hands him a note. Njord closes the door and reads the note. He hands it to the Captain.

Thorsen reads the note. "The king is asking for you. It's up to you." Njord opens the door and Thorsen yells, "Get the hell out of here before I throw you into a cell."

Sam marches out and the door slams shut. He turns his head to the right. Other than Otto watching him the other guards move about their normal routines. He steps out the front door and marches across the yard.

Several minutes later he enters the throne room and walks towards the King and Queen. He bows to them and asks, "You wished to see me?"

From behind them Kai and Gerda are pushed into the room. Agnarr slowly shakes his head. "I did not ask for you."

Sam closes his eyes for several moments and opens them. "These are not the same guards who were by your study room."

The vein in Ingrid's neck pulses. "They were reassigned."

"I hear you." He whispers, "I will push for an attack." He pivots on his heels and marches past Kai and Gerda towards the door. A guard steps from his post and stands in front of the door with his hand around the hilt of his sword. The second guard moves behind him. A sword draws from its scabbard. Sam steps into the first guard slapping his hand off the hilt. He grabs the sword with his left hand. He steps to the right and spins around drawing out the sword. He grabs the blade of the second guard's sword and freezes it. His momentum forces the frozen sword into the chest of the first guard reaching for him. The first guard's sword nearly decapitates the second guard.

A third guard charges him. The fourth guard reaches for Ingrid. Sam swings his right arm up and two spikes of ice shoot from his fingers. The first spike embeds into the third guard's arm above his elbow as he reached for their Queen. The second spike impales into his neck. He staggers behind the royal couple and falls to the floor. He gasps and gurgles as his blood drains out of him. Sam watches the third guard make a sequence of steps before he lunges at him. The distance between them closes rapidly. He waits for the guard to commit himself to the lunge and swings his swords up. By holding the sword in the unconventional position with the blade at the bottom of his hand instead of on the thumb side of his hand, he forced the guard's blade to angle up above his head then he plunges his blade through the guard's heart. He lets gravity pull the body off his blade and the guard falls to the floor.

The adrenalin pumps through his body as he stands over the slain guard. His muscles ache in the remembrance of actions long past, but it is a good ache that snaps the rust off his armor. His body tenses for action as his mind searches for an enemy. He focuses on the four humans in the room.

Ingrid holds onto Agnarr's arm as she partially hides behind him. He has seen her specific expression many times. When fear and disbelief show up it signifies it's time for him to leave the area. He slides his sword across the floor towards the King and speaks two words, "Stay here."

He moves to the door and places his hand on the frame. With his eyes closed, he detects no other guards in the castle. He slips out and closes the door behind him. As he runs through the kitchen, he spots a chair leaning against the pantry door. Inside of the pantry he finds most of the castle staff wedged inside. They protest when he does not let them out.

"If they wanted you dead, you would not be able to protest. You are not their target. You're safer in here than to be caught in the open. I'll come back for you."

He leans the chair against the door as he found it. At the servants' door, he scans the courtyard and detects no one. He slips out the door and expects a crossbow arrow to fly at him. With no one shooting, he does not detect any guards on the walls or by the gate. With more than enough light to see him, he sprints directly to the front of the day barracks. He detects many guards inside of the night barracks.

As quietly as possible he sneaks into the barracks. The Captain's door is partially opened. The rest of the barrack appears empty. Ready to strike, he places his hand flat on the door frame and scans the Captain's office. Two bodies are in the room. He pushes the door open and enters the room. A trail of red leads to a pool of blood next to Sergeant Njord face down behind the Captain's desk. A sword left a gaping wound in his back. He steps to the open back room door. Captain Thorsen lies on the floor. He kneels and touches the Captain's neck, but barely feels a pulse. He touches specific points on Thorsen's face. "Show me your last thoughts."

In the few seconds the Captain's heart stops. No time to mourn him. Boots echo on the wooden floor. He runs out of the Captain's office and out the barrack's doors.

"What is he doing here?"

Otto's voice responds, "Who cares, kill him."

He leaps to the ground and encounters a guard at the corner of the building. He grabs the sword as he thrust his elbow into the guard's face and sprints towards the castle's main doors. At the foot of the steps he faces the crowd of guards approaching him.

King Agnarr calls from behind him, "Samuel, get in here, we can bolt the door."

He peeks over his shoulder. "Majesty, they saw me as a threat to their plan. When they attacked me last night, I became a part of their war against you. I will end it now."

"Then I will fight with you."

"Sir, please stay there. You have a future Queen to protect. I'll make a deal with you. You can fight all those who get past me." He turns his head towards the guards.

Otto motions for the others to stop as he laughs, "How many do you think we need to get past you?"

His hand touch above his hand arching his arms down, his hand snap against his legs. Glancing left then right, he sees an undulating barrier of air form around all sides of the step to a three meter height. He scans the faces of the guards standing behind Otto. "You don't have a hundred. Why don't you go into the village and recruit a hundred to make sure you have enough. I'll wait."

Otto's face blossoms red as his sword hand quivers. He screams, "Fifty gold coins for the one who brings me his head."

Ten guards yell in unison and charge him as they wave their sword. Sam intensifies his focus. Their movement slows and he sees each individual movement of the guards. He calculates all will hesitate at the last second except one. He shifts his weight and steps back. One sword passes next to his face and reflects two dark green orbs off the blade. He grabs the guard's hand with his left hand and takes the sword. His right elbow jams under and up the guard's arm as he throws him into three guards. He continues his spin to the left as his sword swings down then up. Two guards fall to the ground with gashes across their chest. The others hesitate as he hoped they would. He grabs another sword from the hand removed from its owner, his blades slice flesh and break bones. Ten guards lay at his feet dead or soon to be.

He grins at Otto and taunts, "Are you sure you don't wish to recruit a hundred men to do your fighting, I'll wait."

"A hundred gold pieces for his head, Go, Go, Go," Otto yells and motions with his sword.

Swinging two swords, Sam charges into the guards. Metal on metal crashes into each other, but his blades rip into flesh and bones.

The guards who tried to bypass him encounter the air barrier. Their hesitation as to why their sword could not go any further, was the time Sam needed to cut them down. Many minutes later he pulls the sword from the last guard's body. Moans, whimpers, and cries for help remain of the few guards still alive.

Trails of blood run down his arms and body. He points his bloody sword at Otto. "In the name of King Agnarr and Queen Iduna, you are charged with treason against the crown."

"Who are you? I should have killed you the moment I saw you last night. I would have been shoving the king's body off my sword."

"Otto no, not like this," Maltz Jens calls out to his son from the gates.

Sam laughs a mocking laugh. "How does it feel to dishonor your father, no wait? Now, you know exactly how your brother Peter felt when he dishonored your father." He yells, "Jens, how does it feel to have your two oldest sons betray you? Do you feel like killing your third son so he will not betray you?"

"Kill him." Otto screams. He, Ulf, and Sverre charge him. No metal on metal sounds just metal ripping through flesh and bone.

"Nooo," screams Jens as he falls to his knees. The fathers of Ulf and Sverre also fall to their knees with the heads down. They wail.

The other guards escape the night barrack door. They run into the courtyard. Several turn from the carnage to empty their stomachs. Ingrid holds her hands over her mouth as tears stream down her face. He looks at his bloody swords then drops them to the ground. Flicking the palms of his hands back, the barrier drops with a rush of air sweeping across the guards.

Agnarr speaks, "Ingrid, no."

A sharp burning crosses his abdomen. He slaps the knife from her hand.

Ingrid whispers, "I want to see the color of the monster's blood."

Agnarr pulls his Queen back up the steps.

"Open the gates," Comes a cry from over the wall and several guards run to the gates.

Sam wipes his hand across the wound and holds out his hand revealing a bright crimson red. "I bleed the same as they do." He turns away from her and slowly rubs his finger along the cut. Ice crystals trail behind his finger.

Military troops on horseback charges into the courtyard. The Colonel points to Sam. "Seize him."

Gerda and Kai escort Ingrid up the steps.

King Agnarr stands next to him. "He is not a traitor." He points to the bodies. "These are your traitors."

Sam moves his head to Agnarr. "Your Majesty, your Queen is correct. There was no fear of failure. I gave up my previous job because I could not satisfy the hunger. So long ago I kept it at bay, but just then, I enjoyed what I did. It's time for me to leave."

He walks towards the gate. A horse neighs in pain. He walks over to it. Grabbing the rider's heel, he flips him off the horse. His finger slides under the saddle's strap and lets it fall to the ground. He throws the blanket off and removes a spiny shell from the horse's back. The rider runs around the horse and Sam throws the shell into his face. "Put this in your boot and see how well you can walk."

The horse shakes its body. It neighs and presses its head against his chest. He presses his face against the horse and rubs its head and neck. "You will be alright my friend. Not all humans are stupid."

A few seconds later he walks towards the gate. All of the military horses turn their heads towards him and neighs. Sam walks out the gate.

A few days later, Sam sits in the troll communal circle as the first of the new day light brightens the valley.

Pabbie rolls up to him and asks, "What are you doing here?"

"Getting information."

Pabbie snipes at him, "I don't have anything you want."

"Really, I do recall the troll who attacked me and broke my leg, had fiery red eyes."

Pabbie snipes at him again, "Get to the point so you can leave,"

"You said you banished the troll who attacked me. The wolf that attacked me and Queen Ingrid several days ago had fiery red eyes. I know I can see what others see and influence them. Could it be that some of you trolls have similar abilities, maybe even used the red wolf to control the pack that attack me and the Queen?"

For several seconds he hears only silence. Pabbie rolls away. Sam stands and wipes the dirt and grass off his clothes. He walks in the direction of his cave. He knows they are listening. "Does the lack of your response confirm my accusation?"

He does not walk very far from the troll area when he detects another presence. A short distance up the path three horses without riders stare at him. Two riders try to hide behind the trees. He continues walking down the path as he watches them. He stops at a fork in the path and smiles to himself. "Obviously the guards were meant to distract me so you could catch me by surprise. That only works if you assume I am a simpleton. You could have asked me to stop."

"After what I said and done to you, I was afraid you would hide and I would never find you again," she replies.

"You hurt my feelings by calling me a monster, even though the description was quite accurate at the moment."

"I apologize. I regret acting on a moment of disdain. I had never seen such carnage happen so quickly." Queen Ingrid steps out from behind a bush. "Obviously we have failed to properly review the guards before accepting them inside of the castle."

She walks towards him with a scabbard and sword strapped to the belt holding up her black trousers. She pushes back her hood to reveal her long brown hair. She removes her dark green gloves and tucks them under her belt. As she stares at him, she places her hands on her waist. "How long did it take you before you knew the guards were up to no good?"

"Actually, I suspected something was wrong right after the wolf attacked you. They were hesitant to help you. Very uncharacteristic of someone sworn to give their lives to protect you. In the courtyard I heard a bow string pulled tight. I assumed it was meant for the King, but after the events of the evening, I believe you were the target and I would have been the excuse they needed to shoot the wayward arrow that hits you by mistake." He peaks over his shoulder towards the troll area. "When they tried to attack me the night before, it wasn't because I was a new recruit. They were told I would interfere with their plans or stop them. The one named Otto had left the barracks during the night. At breakfast, I discovered he had a red stain on his trousers and the barbed seeds found near a certain river." He points to her boots. "In his case the red stain comes from berries further down the path. Your boots have the same barbed seeds."

She observes her boots and smiles. "So he was in the area. Meeting the trolls?"

"Not trolls, a wolf. The same wolf watching us now."

She searches the area with her hand gripping the hilt of her sword.

He points to the hills. "Up there on the shorter ridge, next to the bush with mostly brown."

"I see only one thing that looks brown and it looks more like reddish-brown."

"That's it." He closes his eyes for a moment then opens them. "Its pack is not in this valley. It gives you a good time to leave." He glances at her staring at him intently. "Is something wrong?"

"When you closed your eyes it felt like a very short burst of air hit me. I thought I was feeling sick because of my pregnancy, but since you have come here, there were times I thought someone had thumped my head or thrown something at me. It was always very brief and it happened again. Are you a wizard?"

He looks at the ground. "I'm not a wizard nor do I have any magical powers, but I understand how my science could be interpreted as magic only because you don't know. The science behind who I am or what I am will be difficult to explain without a common reference."

"I know about science and fantasy and dreamers."

His left brow rises. "And which one of those words would apply to the trolls?"

She nods with a slight smile. "All of them and none of them, depends on who's doing the talking."

He snickers with a grin, "Maybe you do understand, but let's find out. I'll turn my back to you. The instant you feel the thump or a gust of air let me know."

"Agreed."

He turns his back to her then scans the area in front of him, no response. He scans to the left of her then circles around to scan to the right of her, still no response. He sweeps his scan from her left to her right.

"There, I felt it."

He tries to determine how close he could get without her knowing. After a minute he twists around and she holds up her hands wiggling her fingers and thumb. "Five times, the first two times you felt it almost immediately. The last three I purposely scanned close, from your right then left then in front. You have a radius of three meters before you can detect it. That is very interesting indeed."

"So are you going to tell me what the red wolf has to do with the trolls?"

He places his hands behind his back and for a moment he stands motionless. He answers, "One of my skills is to see what others see and to secretly influence them to do what I want."

She tightens her grip on the hilt of her sword and moves her head slightly while still staring at him. "You accuse the troll of controlling the red wolf?"

"In not so many words, but yes."

"What did he say?"

"He didn't say anything. He rolled away. I'm sure it's his way of saying he will look into it."

"You do not think he will?"

He searches the hills. "I believe he will try. The troll, he seeks is the same troll who attacked me when I first crashed here. If he is controlling the red wolf, I can track him. One of my previous jobs was to track a target and eliminate them with the least amount of collateral damage."

"If you stay out here will it attack you again?"

"Probably yes."

"You could come back to the castle. The stable boy said you were the best help he has ever had in years. You will be safe there. If the wolves get too close to Arendelle, a bounty will be placed on their heads, especially the red wolf."

He turns his head towards her. "But out here I can track him."

She takes two steps towards him. "I will not make you come back," she rubs her abdomen, "but due to the circumstances of my child, I request you be available should we need you."

He watches her abdomen. "We?"

"My child and myself."

"Human females have been birthing babies without my help for a long time. I remind you I wasn't there when your husband got you in the condition you're in now."

"Before the attack I would agree, but you were there to save my child. I know she will be special."

"You have no clue as to how special she is going to be." He shakes his head at her.

She releases the sword and touches his arm. "And that is why we need you for those moments when she shows the world how special she can be."

He chuckles and lets out a long sigh. "I have this feeling you have practiced for every reason I could possibly give."

She does not change her expression, but asks, "I am not asking you to come back for me. Will you come back for my little girl?"

"On one condition, if she begins to show skills not normally associated with humans, I will explain my actions, but there may be a time when you will have to let me teach her to use her skills safely."

"What skills are you referring?"

A wolf howls. He searches then spots the red wolf on the ridge. "It's time for you to go." He nods towards the wolf, "It is calling for reinforcements."

"Are you coming back with us?" She grabs his arm.

"I will escort you back, but don't try to hold me prisoner. I will promise to be there when you need me."

"Deal." She walks up the path towards the guards and comments over her shoulder, "I was wondering how long it would take me to convince you. The wolf's howl helped."

"An opportunist!" He follows her to the horse. The two guards are already on their horses. He asks, "Do you need help getting on your horse?"

She gets on her horse easily. "Did I ask for help?" she asks as she adjust herself in the saddle.

He scans down the path and looks up at her. "Why do I get the feeling this is not the first time you have manipulated a man to get what you want? Are you using me?" her horse neighs and nods its head. He nods back at the horse, "I think you're right."

"If you are through talking to my horse, you can ride back with me." She slides forward in the saddle.

"That would create more controversy with the people if they saw their Queen sharing her horse with a stranger. I'll walk." He steps off the path and walks through the forest.

She calls out to him, "I thought you were coming back to the castle with us?"

"I am. I'll meet you at the bridge."

At the foot of the bridge Sam watches two boys struggle to pull in a fish. Their line breaks as the fish jumps out of the water as if mocking them for trying to catch it. "Maybe next time boys," he says to them. Several horses walking behind him. The sound of their hooves clopping on the street stones stops. The two boys look behind him and their eyes widen. They gather their fishing poles and run away.

"I wonder what scared them." The clopping sound moves closer to him. Something large butts his back. It puts its head over his shoulder. "Hey, big guy, did you bring her with you?" The horse neighs in reply. "That's good. I didn't want to tell her the wolves watched her come down the trail." He feels the bottom of a small boot push on his back forcing him to take a step. He spins around.

Queen Ingrid asks from the top of her horse. "Why did you tell me they were not in the area? What if they had attacked?"

"Three things," he replies. "One, at the time they were not there. Two, they were not looking for you. Three," he glances at the two guards, "Did either of you notice the wolves near the road?" They look at each other, then shake their heads no. "Your horses did."

One of the guards asks, "How do you know our horses knew?"

"Because the Queen's horse knew, but don't take my word for it." He steps onto the bridge, "Let's go guys. I'm sure there is a bucket of oats waiting for you."

The horses follow him through the castle gates. Many military guards are posted where the traitorous castle guards would have been posted. He was sure the others are being investigated. He stops in front of the main doors and holds Ingrid's horse.

She commands him, "Take my horse to the stables."

"Yes, Majesty," he replies. He walks her horse to the stable gates and ties him the hitching post. She swings her leg off the horse, but her other boot slips through the stirrup. He catches her with his right arm around her waist as she wraps her arms around his neck. He lifts her sufficiently to get her foot free of the stirrup and lowers her to the ground. She holds on to him an extra moment before letting go.

Several military guards watch him. He barks at them, "The show is over, everyone back to your post." The few who were watching continue what they were doing.

The stable boy steps out. "Well, it's about time you got here. I have a lot of work for you. Take the Queen's horse into the first stall. Remove the saddle, brush, water, and feed him."

He nods to Mikkel. "Yes."

He leads her horse into the first stall and removes the saddle and reins. Queen Ingrid stands just outside of the stall. He raises his left brow and asks, "Is there something you wish to know?"

She smiles. "Obviously you have a voice of command. You have been in charge." He does not comment. She steps into the stall and asks, "What skills were you referring?"

He hesitates for a moment and searches for anyone at each end of the stables. He kneels to look under the horses for anyone hiding within hearing. Stepping closer he scans her eyes. "She may do this." He holds out his right hand with the palm up. His hand closes and opens. A delicate six point snowflake floats above his hand.

7245

End of Chapter.