A/N: Hello, hello! I hope everyone is having a great August. For those in the education field, I hope you are having a wonderful start to the school year! For those heading off to college, remember to study hard, but cherish your time with friends! It truly is a wonderful time in your life, I promise!
Cannonballs whirled past, cracking trees and exploding dirt into the sky. There was soot, there was ash, and the blazing sun was smoked out from the onslaught of both sides. The raiders had wasted no time in engaging with the fleet. Not a single man had abandoned the army, and none gave any hint of hesitation to charge down the hills and set upon the lone bridge.
The attack had caught Halvard by surprise. These men show no sense of fear or intimidation, he thought. Why are they mindlessly charging towards us? Don't they realize they will be cut to ribbons?
There was no time to further divulge. "Aim the cannons towards the lip of the bridge! Do not allow them the break through!" If this is what they want… then so be it.
"Do you hear that?! They're already here!" Kristoff shouted.
"We better go meet up with Elsa. Maybe just this once, I'll be able to finally convince her to use those powers." Anna started to run, but Kristoff caught her arm to stop her.
"Anna… hold on."
"Now is not the time… the battle remember?" Anna pointed towards the smoke.
"Please, I need to tell you something." Kristoff seemed nervous.
Anna paused with worry. "O-Okay."
Kristoff took a deep breath, as if he would only get one last chance to speak. "I.. just want you to know, that, well… I really care about you. I thought you were gone- taken from all of us just a day ago… I don't want that to happen again."
Anna was flustered but red in the face. "Kristoff… if you're implying that I stay behind in the castle, you know that's not going to happen. I care about you too, that's why I want to be wherever you are."
Kristoff missed a crucial part. "I wasn't implying that all, I was just saying that I- Wait. What? "
Anna held his hand. "I care about you too. But I thought we established that already?"
"I… wasn't sure… we've been through a lot, but it's only been a few days since I met you…"
"Well, look at Elsa and Erik. Time isn't stopping them." Anna remarked.
"That's true. It does feel right to be with you." He smiled.
"Like destiny?" Anna joked.
"A bit cliché, but yes."
"I feel the same way, Kristoff." She gave him a tight hug. "Now, if we're done reassuring each other on our feelings, I believe there is a massive battle going on just around the corner."
"Right. Stay close. Let's find your sister and hope to end this quickly." He said with newfound confidence.
"Lead on my ice-man." She smirked.
Kristoff smiled and rolled his eyes.
They scurried through the streets towards the growing sounds of war. As they pushed through the now chaotic crowd, their nerves went on edge and their spirits dampened: people were screaming and pushing to get away from the battle scene. This was not sounding like the kind of romanticized attack read in books, and Kristoff was becoming weary of what Anna might see.
"Do you think she is still in the castle?"
"I can't see how she would be with all that noise!" Anna could barely hear Kristoff over the cannon fire and screaming.
"Well she certainly isn't in the town square calming everyone down!"
Elsa… now would be a good time to reappear. Anna sighed.
Silence. Dead silence. Her eyes were fixed upon his face. She dared not move, for fear of missing a chance, a small window of opportunity. She couldn't breath, and she continued to clutch his hand with her ever being: hoping, willing for a sign of consciousness.
This has to be it. This has to be… Will he remember me? Will he remember what happened? She was shocked again as her hand was squeezed for a second time.
Please… please just this one time let fate be on my side! Please remember….
And as small silent tears fell from her face, the eyes she so longingly wanted to gaze into slowly appeared. He took a deep breath, for what seemed like the first time in an age.
Elsa could hardly whisper. "Erik?"
"Yes. It's working! Keep on the ridges and banks! They will have to pull back soon!"
The navy was easily repelling the raiders. Most were unable to move through the massive black fog, and those that actually did make it to the bridge were met with more cannon fire. Not a single man had reached far enough to even engage on foot. While the naval officers celebrated, Halvard stood back brooding.
I still don't understand why they would try something so foolish. Why haven't they tried anything else? They have all those cannons on the ridge, yet barely any of them have fired upon us…
"Sir?"
"Hmm?" Halvard snapped out of his concentration. Before him was one of his most trusted advisers.
He cleared his throat. "They seem to be regrouping for another charge."
"… Again?!" Halvard slammed his hand on the railing.
The adviser didn't flinch, as if he was used to those types of reactions. "The cannon fire has effectively slowed them, but they still have yet to forfeit."
Another officer came gasping out of breath from the deck below. "Sir, should we send in our ground troops?"
Rubbing his eyes, Halvard calmed down. "No. We aren't going to risk any men. Continue to barrage the ridges, and push them further over the hills. They are up to something, and I need to find out what it is. Send word for all commanding officers to meet here."
Within minutes a large gathering surrounded Halvard on the flagship for the briefing. Halvard wasted no time: "I have a feeling this is a trick. We need to send scouts to the surrounding areas."
A young scout stepped forward. "But sir, the latest reports have found nothing of threat."
Halvard raised his hand to silence the young pup. "With all due respect: were it not for Elsa's warning we would have been caught completely off guard. If an army of this size was able to sneak up on us, then I fear we may be missing the big picture."
"The big picture, sir?" His adviser asked.
"They're distracting us from something."
"Um… guys?!" Olaf had appeared behind them.
"Olaf?" Halvard gasped and then realized his mistake. "My dear fellow, I apologize… I forgot you were up there! Are you all right?"
"There are bigger things to worry about… look!" Olaf pointed to the bay.
On the horizon was a massive glob of white dots. Before Halvard could react, another officer came barreling down the docks.
"Sir! Sir! Out there! It's a massive armada!"
"Are they friendly?" Halvard called out.
"Not sure! But we better ready ourselves in case they aren't…"
"We're not going to have time…" Halvard was staring over the officers' heads.
His adviser gave him a questioning look. "Why not? They're still in the distance. We have-"
"Look behind you." Halvard's hand shook as it directed them.
Another massive army was marching perpendicular towards the current battle. They had just crested over the hill and were now making their descent. They were clad in all black, carrying similar fearsome looking tools and weapons as the raiders.
"It's going to be a three front assault. We will be lucky to fend off that armada, but with two other armies to deal with?" Halvard sighed, and then fiercely got to work.
"Alright. I want the ground troops to intercept the advancing raiders. We will then split the Navy to deal with the original raiders and the armada. Any additional resources need to be used to halt their ships from getting close to the castle. I don't care if we are outnumbered a hundred to one: we stand, and we hold these demons back! I will take care of that advancing fleet. The rest of you, may luck be on your side as you lead these fine men. Remember, stick to the plan. Protect our people."
And with that he was off, leaving the flagship in the hands of the quiet and stunned officers. There was no time to lose.
He calmly and confidently walked among the soldiers, guiding them to report to their commanding officers for new instructions. He would not show any sign of weakness or fear, electing to keep his emotions in tact. The target for what he was heading for, was another massive gunship that was stationed on the other side of the entire city. Unlike the rest of the fleet, it was sitting near the shoreline acting as a backup. It was older, and slower, but it packed a punch. With such a titular naval event about to happen, speed was the last thing on his mind.
As he reached closer to the ship, and further from the docks, he noticed a large group of men sitting about. 'Must be the reserves. The time to wait is long gone.
He motioned for one of the fellows, who had taken to whittling while leaning against a post. "You there! Gather your battalion and follow me."
"To where, sir?" He sarcastically quipped.
Having none of that, Halvard grabbed him by the collar and pointed towards the aging vessel. "There. That ship. It will be spearheading a counter-attack in case those ships in the distance are hostile. Have you not noticed what is about to happen?"
The man yawned. "Aye, sir. We will meet you there."
"You will follow, NOW!"
To this the men jumped to their feet while griping and muttering. Where did we find such people…? Halvard sulked.
With the not so enthusiastic band of men in tail, Halvard soldiered on until at last the bickering got the best of him.
"Gentlemen. I understand your wish to stay behind and watch. That was the original plan yes? To watch our mighty navy bring down a force of thugs with the slightest of ease? Well that plan is no more. Across the waters over there is a large fleet. Behind you is another large army coming down from the mountains. We are surrounded. There is no option anymore to sit and wait. We have to act. We have to defend."
Two men barked back at Halvard. "You're asking us to help man a junker. You're asking us to go to our deaths!"
"Why should we protect the Queen? She nearly destroyed us all!"
"SILENCE! This is about protecting our people! Our families and friends! Do you have any sense of duty? Will you not help stop this threat?" He looked over them. All were silent. "I don't have time to convince you anymore. The choice is yours. But I will continue on." He promptly turned and proceeded across the small landing.
The ship was in worse shape than he had expected. The wood was warped and rotting, the cannons had rust, and the sails were partially torn. It was hardly the ship to lead a full-scale battle. Halvard stepped unto the platform leading to the deck, half expecting to fall through. Well at least the gangplank is in tact… he thought as he entered the ship. While making his way to the bridge his ears captured a noise. He immediately turned to face the group of men. The two naysayers were visibly absent.
It was one of the smaller and less noticeable shipman that spoke up. "If we are to die, then we shall go at sea, with our Captain."
Another stepped forward. "Orders, sir?"
Halvard smiled. "Ready the sails. Let's see what this 'ole box of tree and iron has left."
With much effort, the men were able to steer the ship out of the bay. As they past the rest of the fleet, Halvard signaled the others to follow him. They exited the bay with the Arendelle castle gleaming, while its surroundings fell to flame and the terror of the raiders. Halvard dared not look back, for he knew that the second army had finally reached the city. It was in the hands of the ground troops and Queen Elsa now.