Arriving back in Arendelle doesn't take long. There were no stops this time, so by the time you and Elsa were back the sun had not even shown itself. It's an ungodly hour so the night guards are confounded when they see two cloaked figures riding a wolf into Arendelle. They halt their detention when you both tear off your cloaks, revealing you and their Queen. Elsa and you are then immediately escorted to the castle, where Elsa requests the General in the throne room.
He kneels before her at the throne, "My queen, you requested my presence?
"Ready the soldiers and horses for departure," she commands right away, "We're going to war."
"War?" the general is taken aback, "Your majesty, with whom?"
"Prince Hans of the Southern Isles,"
He immediately recognizes the name, "Hans? Was he not punished for his last crime?"
Good question. You yourself wonder why he had not been punished for his last endeavor here in Arendelle. During the trip back Elsa had mentioned that he was brought back to the Southern Isles; but if he was still alive, then he was most likely banished as his punishment. It's ridiculous, considering that he attempted to murder Elsa. Not to mention he murdered your parents.
A knot forms in your throat as you recall the night your parents were murdered. You clench your hands into fists. Hans doesn't deserve imprisonment, he deserves death.
You were so engrossed in thought that you didn't realize Elsa and her general had finished their discussion and he was already taking his leave. Elsa's sudden tug at your arm snaps you out of your thoughts and you immediately push away all your thoughts of revenge.
"Hey," she tenderly says, "Are you okay?"
You glance down at your hands. Your knuckles had turned white from clenching and your shoulders felt tense. You relax when you realize Elsa is trying to slip her hand into yours.
You tangle your fingers with hers, "Yeah. Sorry, I'm just a bit anxious."
She gives you a small smile and leans up to place a chaste kiss on your cheek, "Let's get some proper rest."
"Okay,"
Hand in hand, she leads you to her bedroom where you both settle onto her bed. Elsa is quick to fall asleep in your arms, snuggling into the crook of your neck. You're physically and mentally exhausted, but you can't help but stay up and ponder about the future.
Once you reclaimed Kadien, how would you provide food and shelter? Were your trade partners still active? Was the farmland soil even still fertile to produce crops after all those flames? And was the castle even still standing? You surely need help to rebuild all that. Your thoughts curve to Rita. You felt terrible for being so distant with her when your memories came back, but you had been too engrossed in the meeting to talk to her properly. She was a close family friend that you practically grew up with, so maybe after everything was over you could catch up with her and she could help you.
You shift your thoughts once again and your eyes land on the figure sleeping in your arms. The thought of not being able to stay with Elsa after discovering your newfound relationship with her was dissatisfying. Kadien was a few hours away and you honestly did not want to leave Elsa's side, even if you had your own kingdom to rule. Perchance you could form a treaty with Arendelle and visit her often on terms of 'negotiations'. Hm. That'd be a good idea.
Deciding to stop thinking and finally get some rest, you nestle your cheek comfortably on the top of Elsa's head and close your eyes.
Morning has come. You're making your way to the dining room with Elsa right now because you had woken up with a monstrous growling stomach. Elsa had heard and laughed at you, immediately suggesting that breakfast is a must.
At the dining room, Anna and Kristoff are seated, awaiting the arrival of you and Elsa.
"Elsa! (Name)!" Anna beams, she jumps out of her seat and runs up to you two for a hug, "I'm so glad you two are safe!"
You modestly hug her back, and so does Elsa. Anna squeezes you both tightly and you and Elsa shoot each other a smile over Anna's head. Anna can't help but smother the both of you with questions and gestures, so when she is finally pried away(thanks to Kristoff) you and Elsa take a seat at the table.
Anna plops back down into her own seat and continues her barrage of questions much to your dismay, "So what happened?! The guards are all over the place! What's Kadien like? Is it nice there? Did you bring back any souvenirs?!"
Your stomach growls again. Elsa decides to answer Anna's unrelenting amounts of questions to spare you time for food. Relieved, you mouth a 'thank you' to her and you dig in to the savory breakfast items on the table. Hungrily, you place a spoonful of omelette into your mouth, your eyes travelling back and forth between Anna and Elsa's conversation. You lock eyes with Kristoff and he gives you a shrug as he eats. You shrug back at him and focus on your own food.
"(Name) is WHAT?!" Anna exclaims minutes later.
Anna's raised voice startles you and Kristoff and you both jump, nearly dropping your silverware.
"That's amazing!" She beams and looks at you, "You're a princess, too?"
You nod and chuckle, "Uh, yes."
"Wait-wait...so we're going to war with your own kingdom?" Anna asks. She then deadpans, "Why?"
You and Elsa look at each other nervously. This was the dreading news you both were afraid of telling Anna. The news about Hans' and his actions.
"Okay...Anna...listen carefully and please don't freak out," you start. Anna nods vigorously. "Remember Hans? Of the Southern Isles?"
Her expression immediately turns grim, "Yeah."
You explain the events and the current happenings to Anna. You can all see that she's uncomfortable, especially when you mention that your parents were murdered by Hans. Afterwards she excuses herself and Kristoff follows after her, leaving you and Elsa. You both finish eating and decide to check on the progress of the army.
It's late in the afternoon after you and Elsa have handled the organization of Arendelle's forces. They are ready for departure, but it is still too early to head towards Kadien. You've both retired to the library, hoping to get some peaceful reading done before the hostilities began.
Elsa, has already finished her book and is sitting beside you, curled up in your arm and watching you. In your other hand, with your thumb pressed to hold the page down, is the book you had started when you first started reading with her. You flip a page of the dog-eared book and let out a content sigh when Elsa lays a soft kiss on your cheek. You return the gesture to her forehead and she lets out a giggle.
"I would not wish any companion in the world but you," Elsa murmurs.
A quote from The Tempest. You close your book, using your thumb to keep a tab on the page you were on. You place a soft kiss on her lips, "Me too."
She wraps her arms around your neck and leans back in to kiss you again. You laugh lightheartedly as your book slips out of your hand and onto the floor. If only it could be like this forever.
At the break of dawn, you arrive at Kadien as planned. It's dead silent as you all near the exit of the forest. You don't see your people or Han's men standing at the top of the walls, nor the gate itself lowered. Feeling uneasy, you quietly motion to Elsa and the others to be careful. By yourself, you slowly step out into the open outside of the cover of the forest.
But then a shrill whir flies through the air and an arrow barely misses your shoulder, lodging into the ground in front of you. You quickly whip your head back and see hundreds of men emerging from the bushes and trees of the forest, surrounding Arendelle's forces.
An ambush.
