LAND OF THE FREE AND HOME OF THE BRAVE
It was about a week later that the first return letters started coming in by mail-packet ship that circled the European continent delivering their contents on a somewhat regular basis. Acceptance letters from France, Great Britain, Russia and other major powers were making their intentions known that they indeed were interested in closer ties with Arendelle and naturally the Queen and her wondrous powers!
"Oh boy, you gotta listen to this one Elsa...!"
"It is with much anticipation that the union of our most holy nations be sanctified with the perfection of my benevolent rule. It is destined to make us the most wondrous realm in all the world. I eagerly look at being the part that completes your existence in this world and the next. Signed, his most perfect grace, lord of those that are justly ruled. Count Deldares of the Kingdom of Mariposa."
Anna was pinching her nose and scrunching her face with exaggeration. She, Rapunzel, and Elsa were in the study going over the dozens of acceptance letters that were recently delivered.
"If this guy puts even one slimy finger anywhere on you, I will castrate him myself!" Anna exclaimed mostly to herself as well as Elsa. She almost immediately began to fume once Elsa started reading the first responses yesterday. Today's deliveries further continued the decline of her foul mood.
"You most certainly will not, dear sister!" Elsa admonished. "We are hosting this festival so as to give the illusion that Prince Johan must earn my hand instead receiving my submissive capitulation. The other suitors must believe that I am genuinely appreciating their attention. As hosts, our guests will receive the care and comfort that the ladies of Arendelle can afford them! And that includes you, Princess Anna!"
"Fine! ...didn't say that I was going to like it...stupid men and their stupid ...faces!" she complained under her breath. This was the most jealous Anna had ever been since Elsa could remember.
It wasn't until the tenth day since Flynn sent out his message that a small schooner arrived from Cuba via Spain and pulled into port. The swarthy fellows that disembarked were quite dark but spoke Spanish and French quite well. The Harbour Master summoned a runner to inform the castle that the Captain wished to speak with a certain 'Flynn Rider' currently residing in her Majesties' Castle.
When Flynn arrived momentarily, he was not alone. Rapunzel walked with Flynn the short distance from the Castle gates to the main pier despite his protests. Being in such close proximity with Elsa must have been affecting her. Rapunzel's hair was becoming blonder and longer since she arrived here. She hoped that it would not reach the great lengths she was accustomed to
"Buenos Dias, Senior Flynn! Or should I say, Baron Eugene Fitzherbert, Prince of Corona!" he couldn't stop laughing. "It's been a long time, si?" The short captain hailed.
"¿Hola, Pedro, Cómo estás? ¿Cinco años, si?" Flynn grinned back. "Yes... I see you've heard of my change in occupation, no?"
Rapunzel inwardly smiled at her husbands hidden fluency as he was comfortably talking to his friend.
The men on board all took notice of her as she released Flynn's arm and presented her hand to the Captain, as he graciously bowed and kissed it. Captain Pedro silenced his mens' ogling and hooting with a withered glance.
"It is my honour to meet you milady. We have heard news that our young buck has become civilized. It would seem that the rumours are true.
"Captain Pedro Francisco De La Bodega y Santos, was an acquaintance of mine who kindly delivered the return letter from our friends overseas." Flynn said while introducing him to Rapunzel. "What do our friends say to our proposal?"
"Well you know Viktor? He said that if he ever saw you again, he would kill you. But I think that the offer you made has intrigued him. He gave me this sealed response when we left him, and told me to tell you that he will be arriving a half fortnight after I give this to you." Pedro said succinctly.
Flynn smiled broadly at the news. "Thank you my friend, will you be staying awhile? I assure you that no-one here will try and incarcerate you, unless you do that thing you did back in Seville?"
His eyes rolling back at that memory. Pedro answered, "Sorry, no. We will only provision ourselves and be long gone on the next high tide. We don't want to be anywhere near hear when Viktor arrives!"
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"What is it Captain? As fast as we are travelling, I can still see the coast of France on our starboard. We can't be arriving in Arendelle already?"
"No my liege, we a have at least two days of travel ahead of us. But if I may? Do you see that tiny ship drafting to our port?" he handed the young royal his telescope.
The Prince held up the eyepiece and squinted as the sun was now sinking in the direction he was gazing at. "She's going very fast and into the Atlantic. Did you get her bearing and her identity?"
The Captain nodded, "I believe so, I make her doing over eighteen knots, at 270 degrees West by South-West. Not her name anyways, but I did see her naval ensign."
"So tell me Captain, where does this vessel, going flat out come from?"
He replied, "America."
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The lone mast sighting four days later was spotted by the lookout guard in the watch tower furthest from the castle. Squinting through his telescope, he was able to make out the "Eagle Rampant" crest on the main sail.
"Give news to the castle's duty officer that his Royal Highness' ship is arriving and should be here in two hours time." the deck officer said to one of his men.
"I would say that his Royal Highness is a tad early. He wasn't supposed to arrive from the 'MED' until next week?" the Captain of the Guard remarked.
He rubbed the stubble on his chin and regarded the light cruiser as she made excellent speed towards Arendelle.
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Kristoff was working in the stables and installing new gates with the stablehands in preparation for the steeds that would be accompanying the visiting dignitaries. The festival would be in just under two weeks and he had spent little time with Anna or the girls. Flynn was a good fellow to unwind with at the end of the day in a tavern or pub, but he did realize that he alone was the odd man-out of the group consisting of Anna, Elsa, Rapunzel and Flynn. They were all royals and nobles. He was just a common labourer who happened to have some influence with a certain red-headed Princess.
"What do you expect, Kristoff? That someday you would be a prince?" he mentally chastised himself.
"And how are we today, Maximus? Is Sven being a good boy and sharing his carrots with you?" Kristoff said as he was combing the Royal Steeds mane. Unlike Sven, Kristoff refrained from giving Flynn's horse a voice of his own. However, if anything, Maximus seemed to have even more animated facial expressions than his best friend. Sven looked up at the sound of Kristoff's voice, so Kristoff HAD to reply for him.
"Yes I have, but like you, Maximus smells funny." Sven said.
The sound of hooves on cobblestone brought Kristoff out of the stables and into the courtyard. A dozen men had arrived and dismounted from their horses as Kai and several house servants greeted them.
A tall dark haired fellow caught his eye. His bearing was regal and his manner around the other men stated that 'he' was the most important one of the group.
"That must be Prince Johan Frederick of Norway." Kristoff surmised. "But he's not expected to be here for at least five more days! I better tell Anna and Elsa if they don't already know."
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"No, no, no, no!" Anna was telling the Royal Seamstress for the final time. "Make the bodice cut less flattering and the collar higher! Also make sure that there is no slit or part that will reveal the Queen's leg. None, do you hear!" she eyed the offensive ball gown she personally commissioned for the festival's main evening event.
"Anna, don't you think that you're overdoing it?" Rapunzel asked again. "I know that you declared no ice-dresses were allowed at the ball, but do you think Elsa will listen?"
Anna was in one of her moods lately. Her normally bubbly personality was tarnishing as the day of the festival was approaching. This was her fifth such tantrum in almost as many days, and it was wearing Rapunzel and Elsa out. So much so that Elsa even refrained from being intimate with Anna when she was like this. It hurt Anna so, but they were going to play a role in front of the world stage again, and at times like this, childlike antics had no place.
"Your Royal Highnesses', Prince Johan of Norway has arrived. Queen Elsa has informed me to tell both of you to join her in the throne room at once!" one of her hand-maidens said enthusiastically.
"Omigod! He's early! Wait, Isolde, what does he look like?" Anna asked her handmaiden, while Rapunzel stood behind and clung onto Anna's shoulders, obviously eager to know as well.
The older handmaiden smiled and rolled her eyes, "He's Gorgeous!"
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"Breath Elsa, breath...in and out, in and out! That's right. You're the reigning Monarch here, not him. So just relax, girl!" Elsa was hyper-ventilating. "At least four days early! His father said he was coming from the Mediterranean in his letter. How could he have gotten here in only fourteen days?"
She could hear the approaching entourage as they neared the main doors of the Throne Room. The high arched walls and ceiling amplified the sound of boots marching on the marble floors.
Just as the main doors were being opened, Anna and Rapunzel bounded through the side entrance that lead back into the castle and reserved for family and servants.
"His Royal Highness, Prince Johan Frederick of Norway and Sweden!" the steward proclaimed.
Prince Johan was at least six feet four inches tall. His wide shoulders and narrow waist cut a youthful appearance. He wore a white tunic with gold buttons. Black and gold shoulder-boards and pleats with gold piping were covered with a modest amount of medals and ribbons. A purple sash of Norwegian royalty was arranged diagonally and contrasted with the black trousers displaying a cut of yellow military striping.
He looked most impressive, at least Elsa thought so. Her eyes became large and her mouth opened slightly in surprise.
Her other two relations were also quite mesmerized, as they both stood up and gasped. Anna was seated to the right of Elsa in the other throne normally reserved for the Queen consort, while a low-back throne was provided for Rapunzel who now sat to the left.
Elsa stayed seated and could vaguely make out in her periphery how Anna and Rapunzel were comporting themselves. She mentally shook her head, but she had to focus on this moment. The young Prince reverently bowed and simply said, "Your Majesty."
"Welcome, Prince Johan. You honour us with your presence. I did not expect you until next week. How was your voyage?" Elsa was pleased her voice came out strong and controlled.
"Thank You, Majesty! I would be derelict in my duty if I were not first to say that I am honoured to be the first one of my House to personally pay visit to your realm." He bowed again though not so deep. Elsa nodded in kind.
"As you are no doubt aware, I am but a servant of his Majesty, King Charles III John and am fulfilling the edict he directed of me. I was informed a little more than a fortnight ago when I was doing his business in Sicily, so you can no doubt surmise that the last few days were most... enlightening, as was the speed required of me to arrive here."
Intrigued, Elsa said, "My staff will show you and your entourage to your rooms, we can discuss more tonight at dinner if you..."
"Your Majesty, forgive me!" Prince Johan interrupted. "I just wanted to say that I AM aware of the festival that will be hosted here in the days to come...and that my father's plans were not of my design. I do not wish to presume because of my House, nor affect the relationship between our peoples. If you wish me to go, I will do so with no ill-will. However, though word of mouth and rumour abound at court, I was not prepared for the reality of the situation in my presence!"
"Oh, and what rumour might that be?" she felt her spine tingle and the room became a little colder. Elsa was about to counter any slander regarding the malignant use of her powers. She was also equally prepared to refute any gossip regarding the nature of her relationship with her sister, Anna. What she was not prepared for was the sincere words of almost poetic timbre she received.
"That your benevolence was only matched by your beauty. I see for myself that the rumours are most certainly true!"
A light snow started gently falling in the Throne Room.
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She hadn't seen much action since she was acquired over twenty-five years ago from the New York liquidation company that fronted for the U.S. Navy near Whitehall in 1815, but Viktor Carlyle was proud of her.
In truth, he needed her as she was the only ship he could afford. She was small and fast but strong enough to project his influence and trade within the Caribbean enclave he called his home.
And now he was readying her for a long voyage across the Atlantic. The sealed envelope carried the Crest of the Kingdom of Corona, and was also stamped with her neighbour, Arendelle!
"Who the bloody hell knows I'm here?" he was puzzled. No one short of the British or American Navy would be able to claim his much wanted hide, especially now that he had his own little fleet. Sadly, the two dozen gun-runners under his employ would have easily fallen to any navy that truly wanted to incarcerate him. Though he rarely stayed state-side anymore since he became more prosperous and wanted, he needed the far better naval facilities of his adopted country.
Now however it would be different. His flagship might not be a first-rate ship of the line, but it would be more than a match for any of the local Mexican or South American warlords that might even dream of unseating him.
"So, Baron is it? Prince consort and heir-apparent, now?" Viktor chuckled to himself. "Well Mister Flynn Rider, I see i'm not the only petty ruffian that has made a mark for himself! You have definitely paved yourself a promising future. And if it's my help you need, than be prepared to pave my future as well!"
"Cast off, you lot, the tide is high! We make for Arendelle!" he commanded his crew. The sun was just setting as the USS Eagle left the mouth of the Mississippi River.
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His beard was begining to itch, but it seemed to fit well with the labour gang that he was managing in the courtyard. Almost all the decorations and assorted stands, benches and booths as well as a small stage were all built and painted so as to allow the citizens access to the festival.
He was doing his best in these troubling times. Being regarded as family but not actually in their company most of the time due to his station felt awkward, to him at least. He noticed that Flynn too was become restless or bored. But at least he didn't have to do any real labour.
Actually, Kristoff didn't really do that much himself. In his role given by Anna and supported by Kai, he was actually more of a Manager or Gang Boss. Though he did still feel insignificant beside so much royalty.
Anna was also a mystery to him. What at first seemed infatuation between her and her sister began to look more like what he felt for her at first. Her little gestures and her extended glances at Elsa were puzzling until he noticed that Elsa was also reciprocating. Though not in the same manner as her younger and crazier sibling.
Now that Prince Johan had finally arrived, Anna seemed to be getting more annoyed and uncomfortable as well as crazier. And not her usual spontaneous antics or ideas either. He never sees her at night because she shares Elsa's room. Though since the Prince arrived, he witnessed at least two occasions that Anna slept in her old room with her cousin Rapunzel.
He questioned Flynn on both occasions when they shared drinking time either at the Castle or at the "Bald Eagle" in town. Flynn laughed off both times with the comment, "They're having a Pyjama Party." he said with an exaggerated wink and an elbow to the ribs.
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AUTHOR NOTES:
1) USS Eagle, a sloop of war, was a merchant ship purchased at Vergennes, Vermont on Lake Champlain in 1812 and fitted for naval service for the US Navy. The British captured her in 1813 and renamed her HMS Finch, only to lose her to the Americans at the Battle of Lake Champlain in 1814. Crew of 50 officers and enlisted men, 11 guns.
After the Americans recaptured Finch they took her back into the US Navy under her original name. After the war, she was sold in July 1815 at Whitehall, New York.
2) Ocean going vessels measured their speed with a unit of measurement called: knots. 1 knot = 1 nautical mph = 1.151 mph = 1.852 km/hr
3) I'm sure that most people would have presumed what the Spanish being spoken was about, but just in case:
Cinco años means "Five years"
Buenos Dias means "Good Day"
¿Cómo estás? means "How are you?" or "How you doing" or " 'Sup?"
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Preview of Chapter 11
CAN'T HOLD IT BACK ANYMORE
"I want to KILL HIM!" Anna shrieked. "Why are ALL the gorgeous men so deceitful?"
"Well, Kristoff isn't deceitful. He's probably one of the kindest men I've ever met." her cousin said truthfully. "If I wasn't married, I think I might have fallen for this Prince, too,"
"Okay, who are we talking about here?" Anna said while shoving a spoonful of ice-cream into her mouth. "Kristoff? Prince Johan? Elsa?"
Lying beside her, Rapunzel also shovelled a spoonful of chocolate ice-cream into her mouth. "I said Prince, honey. Elsa don't qualify. You've got her stuck in your brain again!" She choked down a swallow of red wine while pouring some more into Anna's glass.
Both girls were lying face down and side by side on Anna's bed. A large container of Double Chocolate Ice Cream was in front of them and both were using spoons to eat obscene quantities. Two bottles of red Merlot lay empty on the floor. With their hair up in curlers and both wearing modest cotton pyjamas, it was a typical female slumber party.
"I...I just don't know ...Punzel." Anna slurred slightly. "Is this why Elsa kicked me out of her room tonight?"
"Well, ...no, but you are unfocused, so I kicked Eugene out too so we can have a girls night out."
"I don't know if I can take this anymore, Punzel? He's only been here five days and already, I've missed two of those days while Prince Charming is busy wining, dining ogling and who knows what else to my sister." Anna fretted. Her eyes were only half opened and she could tell her voice was faltering.
In no better shape, Rapunzel actually looked more like Anna's sister than Elsa did. Yes, Rapunzel had green eyes to Anna's blue ones, but with Rapunzel's hair was just as long as Anna's now and having turned gold to boot, she certainly looked like she fit into the same gene pool. Which is actually true.
"You did spend five days with Elsa, just not two of those nights. You know she does take this seriously. You have to trust that she knows what she's doing." Rapunzel playfully hugged her cousin as she tried to placate her. "Look, our runners have already spotted some sails from around the nearby districts. The first arrivals will be here tomorrow. So let's get a good nights rest so we can help Elsa out as we planned, okay Anna?...Anna...?"
"Zzzzzz...zzzzz, snort, nnnggrrphh,...zzzzz!"
"Nice..." Rapunzel thought as she toasted her cousin and then she too closed her eyes and passed out.