12. The Great Thaw

[Last time: With Susan's help, Elsa and Anna were finally reunited, and, after having had a lot of time to think, Anna realised how lonely and sad Elsa's life must have been without her. Understanding each other better, the sisters are together at last, for the first time in this story.]


Susan felt something.

Warmth.

It was warm on the back of her neck. She turned, seeing the sun breaking through the clouds, which were lifting and parting even as she watched. In a few moments the sun was shining brightly down, and Susan was forced to avert her eyes. Then she noticed something even more amazing. The snow was melting. No, not melting, she realised as she watched. It was rising up, drifting gently up into the sky and then dissolving into nothingness, vanishing like dew in the morning sun.

"Way to go, Elsa!" Susan called, turning around as the green landscape of Arendelle was rapidly revealed. The snow was quickly retreating, the warmth of summer returning in an ever-expanding circle centred on Himmeltindan. In just a few minutes, it was as if the winter had never come. Grass was unbending, relieved of the weight of the snow, flowers were shaking free of their white prison, and trees once again covered the hillsides in green. Turning slowly, Susan breathed deeply, letting the warm summer air fill her massive lungs.

"Hey! Put us down! You crazy bitch!"

Startled, Susan realised she was still holding the helicopter, and smiled wryly to herself. There probably weren't many people who could hold up an entire helicopter by the tail and forget about it. Sometimes it did feel good to be strong. Especially now. She raised the helicopter up high enough so that the men dangling off it were at her eye level.

"What did you say?" she asked, her voice dangerously calm.

"Freak! Monster! Let us go!"

"Hmm. Good idea," Susan said, giving them an evil smile. She held the helicopter out horizontally with her right hand, and gave it a good shake. Screaming in abject terror, the two men fell out, dropping into her left hand. Susan tossed the helicopter aside, letting it crash noisily onto the grass, and plucked one of the men off her left hand. Holding one in each hand, she looked at them calmly. "I thought you wanted me to let you go? No?"

"You're going to pay for this!" one of them gasped, struggling in her iron grip.

"Oh no, it's you who's going to pay," Susan said in a low growl. "You're going to come and explain yourself to General Monger, I think. The United States Army doesn't take kindly to having its officers shot at. And I daresay the Arendelle Army takes an even dimmer view of having its rightful queen shot at."

"We don't answer to you or these crazy Vikings!" one man shot. "Now put us down!"

"You're mighty mouthy," Susan snarled. "Most people, when held thirty or forty feet off the ground by a huge giantess, would be a little more polite, I'm thinking."

"Yeah, well, you wouldn't dare hurt us. If you killed us, Weselton Oil's senators in the States would have you put away for life, like the monster you are!"

"You just tried to kill the queen!" Susan shouted.

"No, we just tried to destroy her bridge," the man said. "We need to keep the shipping lanes free of ice. Part of Weselton Oil's corporate social responsibilities."

"You're lying," Susan snarled. "And you won't get away with it!"

"Oh, we will. Now put us down!"

"Fine," Susan said. She walked out to the edge of the sea, held out her arms, and opened her hands. The two men yelled in terror as they fell out, dropping into the water. As they struggled ashore, she picked up the damaged helicopter, and laid it upright beside them. "Get in," she ordered.

"No!" one of the men snarled, pulling out a pistol. "Back off, you crazy bitch!"

"Are you mad?" the other man gasped. "She'll kill us! Put that away, Steve!"

"Shut it, Joe. We have the right to defend ourselves," Steve snarled.

"And so do I," Susan snapped. Before Steve could react, she swiftly flicked his gun. He screamed in pain, the gun flying away.

"You broke my hand!" he shouted, hugging it to his chest with his other hand.

"Put some ice on it," Susan suggested. "Except there isn't any anymore. Too bad." She moved the helicopter a bit closer. "Now, get in!"

"Okay, okay," Joe said, holding his hands up. Glaring at the giantess, Steve followed. Susan pushed the doors shut, then bent two of the rotors down, ensuring that the doors could not be opened again.

"Now stay there, or else you'll make me mad. And you wouldn't like me when I'm mad." She picked up the helicopter and glared through the front window. "You really wouldn't like me when I'm mad…."

"Ginormica! Come in!"

Susan gasped, grabbing at her communicator. "Sir?" she asked, perching on the helicopter. The metal groaned a bit at the unaccustomed stresses, but held.

"Ginormica, the weather's cleared—there's not a cloud in the sky. We're getting reports from all over Arendelle—the snow's vanishing!"

"I know!" Susan exclaimed. "The snow's just gone! It just suddenly all rose into the sky, and basically dissolved into nothing! Winter's gone—we've got blue skies! Green hills! It's summer again!"

"Excellent. What's the status with Elsa and Anna?"

Susan's face fell. "Unknown, sir."

"Why?"

"I couldn't cross the ice bridge," Susan said. Then she looked around, and smiled. "But now it's warmer, I can cross the strait."

"It's too wide, Ginormica. It's over half a mile to the other side."

"But if Anna's injured?"

"I've contacted Captain Hansen—he's sending a helicopter. Which reminds me: we tracked an unmarked helicopter to your location, but it's not on our scanners any more—have you seen it?"

"I'm sitting on it," Susan said with a grin. "And I've told the two men in it that if they try to run, I'll sit on them, too."

"Two men?"

"Sent to kill Anna, and Elsa too," Susan said grimly.

"Sent! Who sent—? No, don't answer that—this isn't a secure channel. There's nothing more you can do. Report back here immediately. If not sooner. In fact, better make it sooner."

"Uh, sir, if I can, I think I'd better wait here until Captain Hansen arrives," Susan said. "Just in case. You never know."

"Very well. But don't delay. Monger out."

"Uh, okay," Susan said as the connection went dead. She stood up again, and gazed over the strait at the mountains. She could see Himmeltinden easily, a little way past a lower mountain with a cliff-like northern face. Was Anna all right? How badly injured was she? The fact that the snow had vanished suggested that Anna wasn't too badly hurt, as otherwise Elsa's grief would have made the winter even worse, but Susan was still rather worried. She hoped Captain Hansen would arrive soon.

Gazing over at the mountains, stark against the cloudless blue sky, Susan suddenly noticed a small white cloud appear over one ridge. It didn't look like any cloud Susan had ever seen before, however. It was too small, almost solid, and… and it seemed to be skimming across the ground. It rapidly moved down the mountainside, then in a few moments had reached the coast. Then it started heading towards her, covering the half-mile strait in just a couple of minutes. As it neared, Susan could see that it was actually a gigantic wave of ice and snow, forming instantly and then melting away as it tailed off. And on top of it, glowing snow swirling around her and cradling her injured sister in her arms, was the Snow Queen.

Elsa came to a smooth halt near Susan and the ice slowly vanished, lowering her and Anna to the ground. Susan dropped to one knee.

"How's Anna?" she asked, looking over the redheaded princess, who Elsa was helping to a convenient rock.

"Fine," Anna called, easing herself down. "Just… rather a sore leg. Oh yes, very sore. Ouch."

"I don't think it's broken, however," Elsa said. "Susan, we have to get back to Reine immediately. My sister needs a doctor. And I need to deal with my uncle."

"General Monger told me Captain Hansen's sent a chopper with a doctor. They had it in the air as soon as the skies cleared."

"Elsa did that," Anna said happily. "It was amazing! After she got me warm again, she just stood up, held her arms out, and it was like some conductor at a symphony—she basically waved her arms and the snow vanished. Now, why couldn't you do that earlier?" she added cheekily.

"I didn't have you with me," Elsa told her with a smile. "And I didn't know who I really was, then." She paused, and let out a small sigh. "I'd spent so many years trying not be… to be me, so of course I couldn't control my snow—myself." She glanced up at the giantess. "Then I met someone who showed me it's okay to be different. It's okay to be what I am."

Susan blushed bright red. Then her large ears caught something. She stood, scanning the sky.

"What is it?" Elsa called up.

"Ah—there it is," Susan said. "There's a helicopter coming. Must be the captain."

"Hurry, Susan! Get his attention!" Elsa called. "He won't know Anna and I are here!"

"Good point," Susan admitted. She waved her arms, then put her hands around her mouth and shouted, "Captain Hansen! Over here! Over here! They're here!"

"Herregud!" Anna gasped, rubbing her ears. "Oh, that was loud!"

"Oh, sorry," Susan said, her hand at her mouth. "I'm so sorry. I completely forgot how loud I can shout. Are you okay?"

"Fine," Anna said. "I should get my hearing back in a few days. Only joking," she added with a quick grin.

"Well, at least the captain heard you," Elsa added, pointing.

As the large purple helicopter coming swiftly towards them, Susan positioned herself between the helicopter and the two royal sisters, just in case it was another of Weselton Oil's. But as it came nearer, she caught sight of a familiar and reassuring figure waving at her.

"Hey, Giny!"

"Hey yourself, Linky," Susan called back, laughing as the green face of the fish-ape stuck out the open chopper door. He jumped out once the helicopter was about ten feet off the ground, and bounded over to the giantess.

"How're you doing, big girl? Oh, hey, the princesses! I mean, the queens!" he added, giving Elsa and Anna a wink and a quick salute.

"Oh, just one queen," Anna said. "Now that Elsa's back—you are going to be queen again, aren't you?"

Elsa pursed her lips. "Well… I was rather looking forward to doing some partying. Maybe a few overseas trips. Enjoy being a princess, for once. Catch up on all the things I missed. Yes, I think you can stay queen," she finished, looking as if butter wouldn't melt in her mouth.

"Hey! No fair!" Anna protested. "You gotta be the queen! No way I'm going get stuck with all that boring ruling nonsense! I'd screw it all up!"

Elsa laughed. "Well, perhaps I'd better be queen. Though I'm going to insist you help," she added. "It's our kingdom, and I'm going to want—I'm going to need you at my side."

"Always," Anna said as Elsa embraced her, while the doctor and Captain Hansen hovered nearby.

Hansen coughed discreetly. "Majesty? Highness? I think we should be getting Que—Princess Anna to hospital."

"Ooh, yes, good idea," Anna said, grimacing in pain as the doctor started to gently probe her leg.

"It's not too bad, Highness," he told her. "Just a broken ankle."

"Just!" Anna shot.

"You were lucky you were lying in snow," the doctor added. "It kept your ankle elevated, and the cold would have helped minimize swelling and pain."

"It's not cold now," Anna said, grimacing. "And it's definitely starting to hurt more."

"Try this," Elsa said with a slight smirk. She made a quick motion with her fingers, and in a few seconds Anna found herself wearing an elegant boot of ice.

"Huh. Yeah, that doesn't hurt quite so much. Thanks."

"I'll travel with you to make sure it stays frozen," Elsa said. "Let's get going!"

"Just let me get into the chopper," Anna said, trying to stand up, but the doctor quickly stopped her.

Link gave her a deep bow. "May I?" he asked, holding out his hands.

"You may," Anna said with a smile, as she allowed him to carefully pick her up and carry her to the waiting helicopter. "You're still coming with me, right?" she asked her sister as Link carefully set her down on the helicopter's rear bench seat.

"Of course," Elsa told her. She glanced over at Susan, who smiled at her. "I'm sorry we can't take you."

"No worries," Susan said as Elsa climbed inside. "I'll see you back in Reine!"

"I hope you know the way," Link said, "because I was totally not looking on the way out here."

"It's not far," she said, waving as the helicopter took off. "We'll just follow the road." The fifty foot woman glanced down at her monster friend, and smiled. "But I'm glad you'll be with me."


Elsa looked out the window of the helicopter as it thundered through the sky. The land below was green and rich again, and at first glance there was no sign that she had blanketed it in ice and snow for days. But looking more closely, here and there she could see snapped trees, broken roofs, and, worst of all, dead animals lying in the green grass. Her power had nearly destroyed her country. It had nearly destroyed what remained of her family.

But it had also brought them together, she thought, looking over at the prone form of her sister. Anna was lying on the other bench seat, being tended by the doctor. With her sister at her side, she could do it. She could help her country recover from the damage she had caused it.

"Hey, Elsa, are you all right? You're not crying, are you?"

Elsa looked over at her sister, and smiled. "I'll be fine, don't worry. If I am crying, it's tears of joy at having you with me, safe and sound."

"Well, mostly sound," Anna quipped, grimacing a bit. "Apart from my foot."

Looking at her sister, lying injured on the seat, Elsa wondered how she could even begin to apologise. Not just for the broken ankle, which was only tangentially her fault, but for the earlier injury to Anna's arm from her avalanche, and the injury she had inflicted on her when they were both children. And, more than anything, the hurt she had caused by never being there, for always turning away and shutting the door in her sister's face.

"Well, Giny, looks like we've got a bit of a hike ahead of us," Link said, stretching and scratching his armpit. "Monger told me it was about thirty miles back to the city."

"No problem," Susan said. "My walking pace is about twenty-five miles an hour, so it shouldn't take too long. You wanna ride?"

"Nah, the Missing Link's faster than you think," he said, grinning up at the giantess. "How'd you think I captured all those bikini girls back on Coco Beach?"

"Well, come on then!" Susan called. Then she stopped. "Hm. I can't leave these two would-be murderers here. Much as I would like to. They have to stand trial, and be found very, very guilty," she added, scowling at the two men through the chopper window.

"Take them with us," Link said.

"Yes, I know," Susan said. "But… ah, that's an idea."

She picked up the helicopter, which still had her two prisoners trapped inside, and swung it casually over her shoulder, holding it by the tail like a knapsack on a stick. "Oh, you better buckle up tight," she called to the two men. "It's going to be a bouncy ride!"

"You sure that chopper's not too heavy?" Link asked, looking up at Susan, his eyes wide.

She shook her head. "I'd say it's about forty feet long, so a bit unwieldy, but not heavy at all. If I can lift a 747, I can carry this easily."

"Wow…. You really are strong," Link breathed. Then he shook himself. "Enough of that. Okay, which way do we go?"

"Follow the yellow brick road," Susan told him, pointing south along the coast.

"Where? What? I don't see any yellow bricks."

"Huh? Haven't you ever seen The Wizard of Oz?" Susan asked, incredulous, as they set off.

"No. Is there much action and violence in it?"

"Well, some, I guess," Susan allowed. "But probably not the sort you like. No car chases or guns."

"Sounds like crap."

"It's not, but you wouldn't understand."

Chatting happily, they followed the shore for a short while, then the road turned inland, cutting across the peninsula. Susan found it a remarkably pleasant walk. The air was warm, the hills were green, and the sun was shining. Susan paused at the top of the low pass to take in the view. Steep mountains marched away along the valley, nestling small lakes before opening out into a small fjord. Trees formed small woods dotted here and there, and over in the distance she could make out a small village. It was such a contrast to the cold, bleak, snow-covered landscapes she had been surrounded by. For the first time, she began to understand why Arendelle had survived as an independent nation, why people would want to live here, and why tourists would travel to such a remote place. It was a truly beautiful country.

"Not bad," Link admitted when she tried to get him to admire the view with her. "But not nearly tropical enough. In fact I'm still damn chilly, so let's not hang about."

"No, of course," Susan said, setting off again. "Sorry."

After about half an hour, Susan and Link found themselves by a short bridge that crossed the narrow strait to the next island. She hadn't even noticed it on the way over, as both the land and the sea had been white with snow and ice.

"You reckon this can take your weight?" Link called up, grinning cheekily.

Susan made a face at him. "Of course it can! I don't weigh that much!"

"Wait, twelve tons isn't that much? Yeah, I guess not compared to a bus, it isn't," Link quipped, and headed across.

"Yeah, not compared to a bus," Susan repeated quietly to herself. "Great."

Link paused, then looked up at her.

"Hey, you okay, big girl?"

"Yeah, I'm fine," Susan said. "It's just that… sometimes I don't like being reminded of my size."

"Huh? Why not? You're the strongest human—heck, the strongest anything—on the planet."

"I guess. Sometimes I do wish I was as elegant and beautiful as Elsa. Look at me! I'm fifty feet tall and weigh over 23,000 pounds! How can I be anything but a big ugly ungainly giantess?"

"Beats me," Link said. "But you're a monster. Monsters ain't cute pretty little things."

"Elsa is."

"Nah, she's not a real monster," Link told her. "Least, not any more. Not now all this is…." He waved in the general direction of the green hills.

Susan shook her head. "Just because she can control it, doesn't mean she's not. It just means she's in control of her power, rather than it being in control of her."


A short while later they were entering Reine. Susan headed towards the airport, and found MF1 waiting outside on the runway. She realised Monger must have clearly ordered the giant transport flown here the moment the snow was gone. Lowering the helicopter to the ground, she checked that the men inside were still reasonably safe and well secured. At the hangar she found that the huge door was already open, so she stooped under it, then looked around for the others.

She turned as a door banged, and saw Monger stride out from the office, followed by Bob and Cockroach.

"Ginormica! You're back! Good."

"The queen and the princess, sir?"

"Safe and sound. They arrived back about half an hour ago, and the queen—the princess—Anna was taken straight to the hospital. The doctor says she'll be up and about in no time. By which he means a few weeks."

"Great! And Elsa? Is she okay?"

"I'm here," Elsa called up, following the monsters, with Hansen beside her.

"Highness!" Susan exclaimed. "Aren't you at the castle?"

Elsa frowned, and ice crackled around her hands. With a visible effort, she shook it off. "My darling uncle has staged a coup."

"A what?" Susan gasped. "He's what?"

"Effectively. He has declared, in his capacity as official regent, that he is the sole source of authority, and that I am a dangerous renegade who is to be arrested on sight for crimes against Arendelle. I was only able to leave the hospital thanks to Captain Hansen, who told the guards I was his prisoner and he was escorting me to jail."

"The guards wouldn't have believed the duke, surely?"

"I have no illusions. I know how my people must see me. I'm the monster who tried to destroy their country. Who brought an eternal winter."

"Well, it's over now, so it's not eternal," Bob pointed out.

Elsa glanced at the blue blob. "But I could bring it back any time. And that's why they see me as a threat. A monster."

"What's going to happen?" Susan asked.

"Sit down, Ginormica," Monger told her. "I'm getting a crick in my neck."

Susan did so, sitting cross-legged on the floor. Elsa looked at her, and shrugged.

"Well, the problem is, at this point the duke does have the legal right to take over rule of the country."

"But he tried to have Anna killed!" Susan exclaimed. "And Elsa!"

"It's his word against theirs," Monger said.

"No, no, wait, no it isn't!" Susan exclaimed. "General, I brought the men with me! The men who tried to kill Elsa!"

"What? Where?"

"Outside. They're in the chopper."

"Won't they just fly off?" Hansen asked.

Susan shook her head, and Link grinned.

"Nah, Giny here made sure of that. No one's getting out of that chopper without a welding torch," he said smugly. "Or without Susie Q here," he added, winking up at the giantess.

"I'd better go check, just in case," Hansen said, and spoke into his walkie-talkie in Norwegian as he headed out.

"So what's the situation here?" Susan asked. "What about the army? Does Arendelle have an army?"

"A small one, yes," Elsa said with a faint smile.

"The army—what there is of it in Arendelle—is split between the duke and us," Monger explained.

"Right," Elsa said. "Some think the duke's acting beyond his authority, but so far, he's done nothing technically illegal."

"Apart from trying to have you and your sister both killed," Cockroach said.

"Oh, believe me, Doctor, I haven't forgotten about that," she said, looking furious. "But in terms of how he's usurped power, it's completely within the Constitution. Anna is officially queen, and as she is only eighteen, the duke is regent with full executive powers."

"But you're back now. Why aren't you queen?" Bob asked.

"The Storting has to reverse its earlier ruling," Cockroach told him.

"So ask them to do that," Bob said, looking—or trying to look—wise, and not remotely succeeding.

"We have," Monger told him as Hansen came back in.

"Er, we have the helicopter, but… we can't get the prisoners out." He looked up at Susan. "Er…."

She smiled. "Of course. Excuse me, General."

Elsa watched as the giantess got to her feet again, towering far above them all, and left the hangar. Susan was back in a moment, carrying the helicopter, nearly as long as she was tall, lightly in her arms, then laid it down on the floor. Then she proceeded to pull up the blade blocking the pilot's door, the metal shrieking in protest before suddenly snapping in her hands with a tremendous bang.

"Oops," Susan said, giving everyone a wry grin. "I broke it."

"It's a Weselton Oil helicopter," Elsa said dryly. "They can bill me."

"Wait, Elsa's paying for the damage?" Bob asked, looking confused.

"No, Bob," Cockroach explained patiently. "Elsa is being sarcastic."

"Oh! Like when you say how glad you were that I swallowed your experiment last week?"

"Only more so," Cockroach said, rolling his eyes. He glared at the two men slowly climbing out. "Are the prisoners cooperative? I hope not. I'd love to come up with some… devices… that would encourage them to talk."

"Now, Doc, no more torture, remember? That's been outlawed," Monger said. "Pity," he added under his breath.

"Oh, I think these two will talk," Susan said, catching them in her huge hands and holding them ten feet off the floor. "Won't you, boys?"

"Never!" cried one.

"No, I'll talk!" the other said quickly as Susan ever so slightly increased her pressure. "It was the duke! It was!"

"How about you and I discuss this in my office," Monger growled, motioning to the hangar office while Susan let them down again. "Link, escort our prisoners inside."

"With pleasure," the seven and a half foot tall aquatic monster said, baring his long fangs. He grabbed each man and hoisted them under his arms, then followed Monger and Hansen.

"Shall we join them?" Cockroach asked, bowing his head towards Elsa.

"I think we should," she said, taking his proffered arm and heading into the office like she was at a ball.

"Don't mind me, I'll be out here," Susan called, and pouted briefly.

"So will I!" Bob called, following the rest into the office.

Unable to follow them, Susan headed out of the hangar, and stood on the apron, basking in the warm sun. She scratched her head idly, then realised it had been days since she'd had a shower. And would probably be several more, as she doubted there were any giantess-sized ones in Arendelle. Her alien uniform was remarkably clean, however—somehow it repelled dirt and sweat, remaining as fresh and comfortable as when she first wore it. The same did not apply to her hair, however. A shower, sooner rather than later, she decided would be the order of the day.

"Concentrate, Susan, for heaven's sake," she said, shaking her head. Why was she worrying about her hair at a time like this? The fact that the snow was gone did not mean things were back to normal. Elsa still needed to regain her throne. The duke still needed bringing to justice. Susan leaned on the hangar roof and gazed over it, up at the mountains, and wondered how they were going to manage everything.

Then she heard cars pull up, and saw sirens flashing. A dozen men in uniforms—Susan wasn't sure if they were military or police—were getting out of the vehicles and heading towards the hangar.

"Who are you?" Susan called down.

"Stand aside, please. We're on official business."

Susan narrowed her eyes. The men were armed, and several of them were holding them loosely, pointed at the ground but ready to use at any second. She casually stepped in front of the hangar door, blocking it with one huge foot.

"Official business? You want to speak to General Monger?"

The captain shook his head. "No. We are here for Princess Elsa. Do not attempt to prevent us carrying out our mission."

"Uh, prevent you?"

"Step aside! Do not prevent us from arresting the princess!"

"Wait, what? Arrest Elsa? No, you damn will not arrest her!" Susan shouted, rattling the main hangar door with her volume. "Get out of here!"

"I'm sorry, but we have our orders. Now stand aside!"

Susan crouched down, her titanic body looming over the troops. She raised her hand, and glared at them. "If I say you're not arresting Elsa, you're not arresting her! Scram!" she yelled.

The small door at her feet banged open and Monger strode out, followed by Cockroach.

"General! Thank god you're here!" Susan called. "Get these men to back off!"

"What in Sherman's Tank is going on here?" Monger shouted.

"General Monger?" The captain saluted, and held out a document. "We are here under orders from the regent, the Duke of Ramberg, to take Princess Elsa into custody on charges of treason."

"Treason!" Monger exploded.

"She is charged with causing millions of crowns worth of damage to the Arendelle economy."

"Rot! Give me that!" Monger grabbed the document and looked at it. "It's all in gobble-de-gook," he snarled.

"Norwegian, General," Cockroach said, peering over the shorter man's shoulder.

"It could be Martian for all the good it will do you," Monger said, pushing the document back at the captain. "You're not taking her."

"I'm afraid we have orders. This is an internal Arendelle matter, and I must ask you not to interfere."

"You… son of a…" Monger fumed, turning interesting shades of purple.

"General, a word if I may," Cockroach said softly, and whispered rapidly in Monger's ear. Monger's colour rapidly returned to normal, and he smiled at the captain.

"I would love to comply," he said, holding up a hand as Susan opened her mouth. "But you see, the duke has already handed Elsa over to my custody."

"Your custody, General?"

Monger nodded calmly. "Indeed. He requested that the Monster Force take Elsa, otherwise know as the Ice Monster Snødronningen, into protective custody. She is, therefore, under my command as a member of the Monster Force, and in accordance with the 1954 Euro-American Treaty on the Extradition and Containment of Unnatural Life Forms, I am in sole charge of her. So back off, boy!"

The captain turned to his troops, and they talked rapidly in Norwegian. Then he looked at Monger again.

"I'm sorry, General. My orders are explicit. The duke demands you hand over Princess Elsa."

"And I told you, nobody gets to abduct monsters but me!"

The door opened again, and Elsa stepped out. She regarded the troops sent to arrest her with mild curiosity.

"General, I believe I am under your protection. Protect me, then," she said calmly.

"Ginormica, protect the princess," Monger said, nodding up at the giantess.

"You heard the general," Susan said, glaring at the soldiers. "Back off!"

"Allow me, Susan," Elsa said. She stepped in front of the giantess, and raised her hands. The troops backed away rapidly, looking terrified, then Elsa lifted her arms up in a smooth motion, and a sheer wall of ice formed between her and the soldiers. Creaking and groaning, it grew rapidly higher and higher, reaching up as far as Susan's shoulders, some forty feet off the ground.

Elsa lowered her hands, and looked up at Susan. "We should be safe," she said.

Susan glanced over the ice wall at the retreating soldiers. "For a while. Until they come back with flamethrowers," she said grimly.

"In that case," Elsa said, smiling, "we'll find out whether fire beats ice…."


KNOWTES

It Liiiiives!!!

Bet you'd all thought this was a dead fic. Nope, merely sleeping. Very soundly, I admit. Life gets in the way in all sorts of ways. Some good, some bad, some neutral. This story WILL be finished.

The view Susan sees of Lofoten, from the low pass, is an actual view, which I saw thanks to Google Earth. Very scenic indeed. And the route she took is also based on Google Maps. Apart from that, there's absolutely no facts here at all. A complete lack of facts. And that's a fact.

Will the next chapter be up before the heat death of the universe? Let's find out together, shall we?