Can I say something crazier? I don't own Frozen too!

A/N: Ah yes, here we go! The Battle for the fate of Arendelle has arrived! For added epicness, listen to "Preliator" by Globus or "One Final Effort" by Marty O'Donnell during the appropriate times. Have fun and I hope you enjoy!

Chapter Fourteen: Fimbulwinter - The Battle of Arendelle

Elsa awoke from the first solid period of slumber she'd had in days. Anna had also been quiet throughout the night as well, no night terror daring to haunt her. The only light in her room came from the dim, rusty lantern sitting atop a nearby crate. It was still dark, but something in Elsa told her that dawn was approaching soon.

It is time.

The redhead was still fast asleep, a faint smile on her beautiful face as she dreamt of good things. As much as Elsa hates it, she has to leave the redhead behind until she secures Arendelle for her sake. The redhead protested her choice last night vehemently until Elsa reluctantly agreed to take her with her to the battle.

But unbeknownst to her sister, Elsa had lied to her. Although, Elsa had always despised lying to the girl - especially after what they have been through recently. But for the sake of Anna's safety, - and in turn, Elsa's own safety - she had to do it. The horrors of war were too much for the younger girl's still mending mind.

The ends justify the means.

Exhaling softly, Elsa carefully maneuvered herself out from under the younger girl, giving her a final kiss goodbye, before she slipped out the door into the main room. Lord Clemenson and Arnbjorn were already awake and were waiting for her in the living room, gathered around a map of Arendelle lying on the table. A cup of tea and a plate of cold meat and dry bread were awaiting her on the dinner table.

"Good morning my Queen," Clemenson greeted, placing his little cup of tea down on a plate. The housecarl acknowledged her with a reverent bow of his head.

Elsa sat down and hastily began her breakfast. "Are you two prepared? Do you remember the plan?" she asked them after quickly finishing the bland food. She prayed that the meal will give her enough strength to last the battle until she can get real food.

The two men nodded their heads, recalling the quick, yet effective battle plan all three of them had brainstormed last night. The plan - christened Operation Fimbulwinter - was relatively simple, relying on trickery, rapid troop movement, and overwhelming brute force to succeed. Arnbjorn and Lord Clemenson were to lead the frost golem infantry in a flanking maneuver around Arendelle while waiting for Elsa's charge against the warships. When the cavalry charge commences and distracts the flotilla and garrison, the vanguard force storms the city while Ulfric's thugs are inattentive. The frozen army will then proceed to retake the city from the Southern Isles, while Elsa takes on the mad Prince and puts an end to his tyranny.

Despite their rather simplistic approach to attacking the city, Elsa was confident Anna and her would be sleeping together in her bed by nighttime.

After breakfast was finished and the two men were clad in winter gear, Elsa led them outside for final preparations. The Army of Arendelle awaited for their Queen, having kept a silent vigil overnight. Elsa inspected her golems meticulously, then she judged their numbers are still insufficient to take on the city. With a simple wave of her hand, she summons forty more mounted knights and an additional fifty ice infantry, now making their numbers a respectable one hundred and seventy strong.

Taking a deep breath, Elsa conjures her ice armor and war cloak, along with three war steeds for herself and the two men. She mounted the ice stallion, Clemenson and Arnbjorn following suit. "Alright, I'm ready to fight," the General said as he took the reins of his frost stallion.

Arnbjorn trotted up behind him, his hand resting on his steel blade. "I'm ready as well, my Queen."

"Then it's settled." The Queen trotted the front of the army, her ebony ice cloak billowing in the mountain wind. She took a deep breath, feeling her power surge within her. "Commence Operation Fimbulwinter!"

She locked eyes with the two men; even in the dim light she could see the unbreakable determination in their souls. "We will live after the battle. I can feel it. Godspeed gentlemen." Elsa held out her hand, and Frostbite hisses to life in her grip.

Pointing the frost blade in Arendelle's direction, the Ice Queen rallied her army forth. Adrenaline pumped in her veins at the sheer thought of the upcoming battle.

"To war!"

The empty halls of Arendelle Castle were a depressing sight. The once beautiful decorations and paintings adorning the walls were vandalized by Ulfric's men, and the flooring was marred by dirt and other foul things. A few guards patrolled the desolate corridors, their swords' clanking as they bounced softly off their leg armor, echoing in the dark halls. There was a wraithlike miasma of uneasiness throughout the castle, but they could not pinpoint the source, for it seems coming from everywhere.

Even the Crown Prince felt its unnerving presence. His golden eyes were heavily bloodshot. The usually finely-combed strands of auburn hair on his head were matted and stuck to his skin, and his trademark beard was in worse condition than his hair. His bear fur cloak stank of dried blood and stale mead. For man that proclaims himself King, Ulfric resembled an old, hairy beggar in royal's clothes.

But no one dared say that to his face lest they had a wish for a flaming sword rammed in their gut.

Friedrich, the madly loyal crossbowman he had promoted to his housecarl after Arnbjorn suddenly disappeared, watched him pace from afar. He too, felt the uneasiness. "Has a curse been placed upon us my Liege? Perhaps one of the remaining servants-"

"Silence Friedrich. You're irritating me as much as this horrid dread," the Crown Prince snarled dryly, and the soldier shuts his scarred lips

It all had started when Arnbjorn mysteriously left him. His former housecarl had always been by his side when he needs him, and they fought countless battles together. Some even say they were almost brothers. But after all that, he disappears right under his nose? What was it that caused Arnbjorn to suddenly leave his post?

Blinded by his own madness, the Crown Prince failed to see it was his fall towards insanity and cruel sadism are what forced his housecarl to abandon his services.

He was desperate to find relief from this unnerving dread that hung around the air. Storming out the throne room, the Crown Prince hastily walked to the balcony for fresh air. There was a faint light to the east, growing ever so stronger by the minute. Rays of light from the still hidden sun illuminated the skies orange.

Dawn has arrived.

At that very moment, away in some street in the city, a rooster crowed. Shrill and clear it was, echoing through the lone alleyways, streets, and into the cold fjord, heralding only the sun that was soon to arrive.

And as if in answer, there came from far away another sound. It was unmistakable; a low, sustained note that was frequently heard before the start of a battle. Horns, an entire host of them. Throughout the dim fjord of Arendelle and the dark crags, they reverberated. Their voice was clear, sending only one message to Arendelle as their sound washed over the awakening city.

The rightful sovereign of Arendelle has returned.

Elsa gazed down the snow-covered ridge that overlooked her homeland. Although the city appeared relatively fine from afar, all is not what it seems. There was a foul aura of terror that hung over the kingdom like a malicious wraith, its roots anchored to the castle. Seven warships were anchored in the fjord, three of which were particulary fearsome in appearance. They had cornered the city like vicious hounds, foaming rabidly at the mouth as they awaited to devour their prey.

But Elsa refused to let that happen.

Bringing the war horn of ice hanging at her side up to her lips, she blew a powerful note right down into the kingdom, disturbing the wraith's stranglehold on the city. Her knights followed suit, and the chorus of war horns made their presence known to everyone. The evils that occupied her city turned their groggy focus on her and the knights that followed her.

There will be no escape from the storm.

Holding her head high, the Queen-turned-commander trotted to the front of the line and faced her knights. Rising high in her stirrups, she cried in a loud voice towards her cavalry.

"Arise! Arise, my soldiers! An evil enemy holds the knife against the throat of our fair Arendelle! Unopposed, they committed atrocious crimes against her rulers and the people! But that will soon come to an end! Ride forth! Ride forth, and we will break them as the sun breaks the darkness!"

With that, Elsa seized the horn once more, and blew such a triumphant blast that it briefly rend the wraith of terror over Arendelle asunder. And promptly the host of cavalry joined in her deafening call, the blowing of the horns of the Queen's army a tempest of sound upon the kingdom.

"Bring the wrath of winter upon THEM!"

The Queen cried to her stallion and the horse charged away down the ridge with such ferocity, Elsa had to hold on tight until her knuckles were white. Her knights followed her, thundering down the white snow as the morning rays of the sun broke behind them. Their wake was followed by a massive cloud of snow as the host charged furiously towards the fjord, making their numbers seem even larger.

The warships sailed slowly to meet them, their captains amused that the three-deep line of cavalry even dared to think a charge would be effective against such mighty engines of destruction. They themselves formed a row, seemingly to mock Elsa's hopeless charge.

Snow explodes high into the air as the charging cavalry met the foot of the ridge, the avalanche that was chasing them having caught up to them. Although at first blinded by the thick cloud of snow, Elsa was counting on this to occur. Her command over frost made it possible to bypass being buried by the avalanche and using the cloud it stirred as a screen. They thundered towards the freezing waves, cloaked by the avalanche's wake.

It took only four seconds for them to break through the cloud wall as one, stunning the captains. Now at ground level and still storming to the shore, the blonde was able to get a true scale of how small they were compared to even the smallest of the warships.

But Elsa did not falter, leading the knights towards the shore. Closer and closer, they thunder towards the fjord. Right before they crash into the waves, Elsa releases a fraction of her power. It was more than enough however, for the waters of the fjord froze into thick sheets of ice, forming a path for the cavalry. The charge was not at all slowed as they stormed onto the frozen surface.

Thunderous hooves stampede across the ice sheet as they come closer to the warships. The captain of the Fafnir ignored the threat of the ice and sailed forward alone, intent on crushing the cavalry charge beneath the unforgiving prow of his ship. The advancing ice sheet cracked and groaned as wood met ice.

The dragon figurehead on the flagship's bow , with its maw wide open, seemed to be swooping in to devour Elsa as they head on a collision course. She closed her eyes, remembering her father's words to her from her vision last night. Your powers are the greatest the world has ever seen.

Power surged in her veins, and Elsa's now glowing eyes shot open. She unleashes the fury of her birthright with a fierce cry, a cry so terrifying it struck fear through the crew of the warships.

Suddenly, an enormous iceberg rocketed from the depths of the fjord, halting the warship in its path. Like a knife, it cut through the heart of the monster, cold and clear. She had impaled the ship with so much force, the cruiser Fafnir had been hoisted thirty feet into the air before splitting in half and crashed with a deep wail. The cavalry circumvented the dying ship as debris and bodies rained. Those that were unfortunate enough to survive the fall were trampled underfoot by Elsa and her knights.

One down.

A deafening chorus of cannons suddenly erupts around them, the flanking frigates firing in a panic. Their shots missed completely though as they were not able to train their guns low enough to fire at the passing cavalry. They only managed to land shots on each other.

Without even sparing a glance towards them, Elsa lets loose a devastating explosion of ice against the frigates. Numerous icebergs erupted on both sides, disemboweling the warships violently. The cries of the sailors were silenced as the once fearsome frigates swiftly sank beneath the unforgiving waters of the fjord. Ice crept and sealed the polynyas.

Three down.

They were well behind the remaining trapped brigs. Elsa signals for the charge to halt to inspect the damage to her host and Ulfric's flotilla. Miraculously, no knights were lost while the enemy had suffered a tremendous loss in only a few minutes. The panicked sailors from the four paralyzed brigs were already abandoning ship and fleeing across the ice. She seized her horn, ready to commence a devastating charge at the routed enemy when the sound of furious cannon salvos abruptly echoed from the port.

Screams resonated around Arendelle as the cobblestone streets became a battleground. The vanguard of a hundred ice infantry stormed the city as soon as the first ship was demolished by Elsa. They had briefly took the Southern Isles garrison by suprise, but the soldiers quickly mounted a furious defense, momentarily stalling the assault.

But they were only holding off their inevitable deaths.

A phalanx of ice golems advanced through a street, ice shields locked as a squad of crossbowmen desperately attempted to halt them. The barrage of bolts dealt only superficial damage, merely succeeding in turning the golems to cold, walking pincushions.

"Retreat!" cried one of the guards. They were about to turn tail and run, but lo and behold, another shield wall of golems had flanked them cut off their exit. Their deaths came quick, the bloodstained ice swords making quick work of the men. Having cleared the street, the frost automatons marched off to find more soldiers to slaughter.

Down in the city square, a skirmish raged between hulking ice golems and the "defenders." Lord Clemenson shouted orders on top of his mount, occasionally galloping into the frey to join the battle. The soldiers of the Southern Isles had managed to take down a small number of the automatons, but their own losses were building up.

The survivors of the square retreated into further into the city, and the golems hounded them.

Meanwhile as the frozen army systematically eradicated the garrison, Arnbjorn galloped down an alleyway, yelling to the people to stay inside and lock their doors. With nothing they can do, the people did as they were told. A few brave citizens had tried to offer help to the vanguard, but the housecarl warned them they might be mistaken for enemies.

He was about to charge down another street but something interrupted him.

The distant boom of broadside fire echoed somewhere from the fjord, then the sharp sound of ice breaking. Galloping to one of the city's esplanades get a view, Arnbjorn was treated to the glorious sight of the frigates skewered with colossal spikes of ice. The housecarl couldn't help but cry out with glee as the ships sunk beneath the frozen fjord.

Another cannonade rang off. But this time, it didn't originate from the fjord. They were coming from the heart of the port.

The galleons - whether by Ulfric's orders or their captain's - were firing blindly into the city, murdering indiscriminately as the cannonballs ripped through houses, streets, and bodies.

"Oh shit!" he cursed. Reining his horse, the housecarl prepared to run off to join with the main force, but he paled when he turned around. He found himself surrounded by five soldiers from the Southern Isles. Leading them was none other than Friedrich. The chestnut-haired lieutenant twirled a bolt in his fingers before loading it.

"Well so that's what you've been up to Arnbjorn," Friedrich chastised. "Helping the enemy," he smiled coldly. "That's about as heinous as fucking your own sister. Do you not know treason is punishable by death in our homeland?"

Arnbjorn unsheathed his blade and pointed it at Friedrich. "I no longer pledge my allegiance to the Southern Isles, for Elsa is my new Master. And unlike you and the rest of Ulfric's men, I have honor." His horse reared high into the air and he prepared to run them down.

He sneered at him. "There is no honor in war." Before Arnbjorn could react, Friedrich shot him square in his stomach.

A sharp pain flared where the bolt slammed into him. Losing his grip, the housecarl fell of his horse, the wind in his lungs knocked out by the fall. The steed charged at the soldiers, but one of them, out of blind luck, swung his greatsword and decapitated the stallion. The housecarl tried to get up but Friedrich shot his thigh. Injured and without a mount, Arnbjorn was helpless as his former countrymen stalked towards him.

Friedrich took Arnbjorn's fallen blade and pressed the tip against his throat. "Be happy that you'll die by my hand instead having the disgrace of being executed by your former master."

War horns suddenly bellow from the port, interrupting Arnbjorn's impending execution. The temperature dropped nearly thirty degrees as a massive ice formation vaguely resembling a clawed hand erupted from the port.

Suddenly losing all interest in Arnbjorn, Friedrich flung the sword away. "Fuck! Follow me! We must stop the wicked sinner!" The kill squad ran off towards the harbor, leaving Arnbjorn bloodied in the street.

Th housecarl attempted to stand, but only managed to limp ten paces before collapsing on the street. Before he passed out, he felt something cold gently grab his collar, and dragged him off.

Riding her war horse, Elsa felt powerful and nigh unstoppable as she thundered atop the ice into Arendelle's port. The galleons Ulfric had arrived with were firing their starboard cannons with indiscriminately. Fury erupted in her as she thought of the innocents that have died or gotten hurt because of her.

Her eyes glowed even brighter and she blew the war horn. Her knights joined her call, heralding the impending doom for the galleons.

Utilizing the raw power of her birthright, Elsa outstretched her hands towards the ships. On cue, two claw-like icebergs surged from the harbor's depths and seized the galleons, swiftly dragging them underwater and halting their onslaught. All of Ulfric's ships were now out of commission by her hand.

The "fingers" of one of the icebergs formed a ramp for her charging knights to scale. They charged up the ramp and into the docks, before they fan out into the city. Elsa did not join them to finish clean up. She had peeled off from the formation, trotting alone in the wrecked docks. Bodies of the galleon's sailors were strewn sporadically, having been flung off the deck.

Elsa dismounted her steed, her eyes burning with hate as she turned to glare at the castle. The wraith of fear had shriveled until it only had influence over the castle. One she planned to weed out soon.

Ulfric hadn't joined the battle yet, but he was probably awaiting for her inside her own house. Whatever defense he was planning - if he had any at all - had backfired on him.

"There will be no escape from me, Ulfric," she snarled in a voice that did not belong to her. She felt a dropping sensation in her stomach as the power of her birthright reached tothe heavens.

Dark clouds rolled in ominously from the west, blotting out the sun's rays. Hail and snow began to pour from the heavens. Howling gales roared, buffeting everything with their fury and plunging the temperatures. She slowly stalked down the docks, heading to the bridge that led to the castle, her black cloak snapping in the wind.

She was almost at the bridge when a voice shrieked from somewhere nearby, "There she is! Kill her!" Five soldiers sprung out from piles of debris, swords raised to strike. Elsa glared at them and they immediately halted, turned around, and fled in terror. The only one stupid enough to challenge her brought up his crossbow, aiming right between her eyes despite the inclement weather.

"Fine! I'll do it myself!" he snarled. She recognized the man as the one who shot her wrist and thigh with a crossbow, and the one that was most vicious in mocking her. The soldier pulled the trigger, but Elsa was more than prepared. A vortex roared around her, deflecting the bolt.

"Wha-"

Elsa gladly repayed him for the wounds he inflicted on her. Flicking her wrist, she hurls three, thin crystalline spears downrange towards him. They found their mark easily, impaling the soldier's right wrist, thigh, and heart. His dismembered hand, severed by the force of the spear, was flung ten feet away. It still clutched on to the crossbow.

The soldier fell on the ground dead. Something in Elsa reveled in this, but she passed it off as battle-fury, and she continued her lone march towards the closed gates. The city of Arendelle still raged behind her in battle, but it won't be long before Ulfric's men are dead.

It all ends before tomorrow. The sealed gates were now fifty yards from her.

Cupping her hands, Elsa concentrated a tight ball of frost and wind. She took deep breaths as she built up power behind the ball, the raging gale picking up with each exhale. The violation of her sister briefly flashed in her head as she finished the ice bomb.

For Anna.

She yelled as she hurled the ice bomb towards the gates. An explosion of cold, ice, and snow blanketed the area as it exploded. While they were built to withstand battering rams, the gates were rend asunder under the fury of winter.

Albeit somewhat winded from her effort, Elsa advanced towards the frosted ruins of the gatehouse. There was a multitude of frozen, dismembered limbs and mutilated bodies littering the wreckage, but Ulfric's body was nowhere to be found.

However, Elsa saw that as a good thing. The crimes he had committed against Arendelle, her, and Anna are too extreme to deserve a kind death such as these men were given.

I'm coming for you.

Earlier, about forty five minutes after Elsa left for war

Anna slowly opened her eyes as she awoke from the first restful night she had. Today's the day. Excitement filled her veins as she thought of fighting by her sister's side to retake their home. However, it took only a few moments for her to realize that no cool arms were cuddling her.

It only meant one thing. Elsa had lied last night and left her without taking her to the battle.

She darted out of the bed and bursts into the living quarters, her face flushed with anger. There she found Kristoff and Sebastian playing cards together in the table. When they spotted her, the servant bolted into his feet and bowed to her.

"Princess Anna! What may I get you? Tea? Some bread? Or do you want to join us in cards?"

Anna seized Sebastian's collar in a display of strength that belied her size. Her voice was dangerous, scary almost. "Where. Is. Elsa?"

"She went off to Arendelle!" Sebastian squeaked, "But she ordered us to watch over you until the battle's over!"

She pushed him backwards into Kristoff and began putting the outdoor gear Kristoff lended to her. "Anna, your sister said to not let you go after her!" the mountain man said as he recovered.

"It's too dangerous!" Sebastian added.

The redhead narrowed her eyes at them. The two men flinched in fear. "Not as dangerous as lying to me." Putting on her fur cap, Anna stormed out the lodge and headed for Sven's stable. The two men dared not to stop her however, too frightened of what the punishment was going to be if they did try.

It was still somewhat dark, but there was a soft light to the east. She could just make out a massive trail of footprints heading towards Arendelle's direction. They were fresh, so Elsa had just left recently.

There's still a chance I can get to her.

When she entered the stable, she found Pabbie was meditating near the sleeping reindeer. He was sitting cross-legged taking deep breaths as he chanted in a strange, rumbling language. It sounded similar to falling gravel, but he stopped chanting when Anna cleared her throat.

"Hello Princess Anna," he greeted her. He didn't seem annoyed at all that he was interrupted. In fact, it was almost as if he was expecting her.

"Pabbie, I have to find Elsa now." On cue, Sven awoke, lifting his head up to see her. The troll patted his side, briefly talking in the language of trolls to him. Sven nodded and sat up, waiting patiently. She noticed his reins were already on place

"Sven should be able to get to Arendelle in at least forty minutes. The battle will be almost over by then however."

"W-w-wait, you're not going to stop me?" she sputtered.

The shaman shook his head. "Last night in secret, I had warned her that foresaw bad things should you two become separated. But Elsa refused to believe in my words of warning, insisting that you should be left behind for your safety."

"Wait, what do you mean you foresaw bad things?"

Pabbie's face darkened. Whatever he saw, it was very dreadful. Maybe even worse than their time in the dungeon. "It's best not to talk about it, lest they come true." He left it at that and urgently pointed to Sven. "Now go! Elsa needs you!"

Anna quickly mounted the reindeer, leaning down to not bump her head as he rose to his full height. Sven trotted out the stables, while Pabbie followed them. A unnaturally cold wind blew from Arendelle's direction. The skies started to lighten even further, the darkness slowly retreating. "Ride! The battle's going to initiate soon!" Pabbie barked.

With a quick snap of Sven's reins, Anna hastily took off, following the road to war.