Strained Friendships
Elsa stood at her bedroom window watching the first light of day break out over the horizon. Unable to sleep, she had sought solace in the usually soothing view of Arendelle at dawn. Unfortunately, the thick cover of snow that lay on the ground had evoked a strong sense of déjà vu, shattering any hopes of relaxation. Reminding herself sternly that she had brought on the winter to protect her kingdom, Elsa nevertheless felt troubled by the hardships that her people now faced. Seeking to calm her agitation by clinging to the love and support that she had been shown by them, she experienced a measure of peace begin to flow through her when a sudden salvo on the door by an unseen fist drew her out of her thoughts.
"Yes?" Elsa called hopefully, praying that it was news of Anna.
"Your Majesty, my sincerest apologies for the intrusion at this hour," came William's muffled voice, "But there is something you need to know right now."
"Of course, William," Elsa said as she opened the door, "Is there any news from the rescue…"
Her words trailed off at the sight of William's pallid face. "What's wrong?" she asked, her concern aroused, "Are you ill?"
"No, Your Majesty," he hastened to assure her, "It's not that. And, digressing for a moment, Captain Elias hasn't heard from the rescue party yet but he did say that it's still early and he has high hopes that they will return later today."
"Then, what's the matter? Why are you so pale?" Elsa pressed.
It's just… well, the messenger that we had sent to Brimstad has returned," William faltered, wringing his hands.
"And?" Elsa queried, mystified as to why this should cause William to lose colour.
"It appears he was refused audience with King Theodore."
"Why? Was the King indisposed?"
"No, Your Majesty," William's voice had sunk low, "It appears that the King was not too pleased about the fact that his kingdom had been blanketed in snow."
"What?" Elsa exclaimed in shock.
"I'm sorry, Your Majesty," William almost wailed, "I did not wish to be the bearer of bad news."
"But how can this be?" Elsa thought aloud as she patted the distraught man's shoulder, "I was so sure that the snowfall would only be within the boundaries of our kingdom."
"That's where it becomes strange, Your Majesty," William put in, having regained some measure of control of himself, "The messenger did say that it was already snowing in Brimstad before… well, before it began in Arendelle."
Unable to make sense of what she had been told, Elsa felt as if her head would burst with the number of questions that were swirling around inside. She put on a brave face, fighting to stay in control of herself as everything around appeared to be descending into chaos.
"William, get Captain Elias and meet me in the study in ten minutes," she instructed, "We may not understand what's happening here but we have to get on top of it right now."
William bowed and trotted off on his errand. Elsa shut the door and leaned her head against the cold wood, trying to calm the terrors that were rising up inside her. With a deep breath, she gazed down at her palms and wondered, not for the first time, whether her powers were a blessing or a curse.
Ten minutes later, she was seated at her table in the study when there was firm knock at the door and Captain Elias entered, followed closely by William. Elsa could read the puzzlement on the Captain's face and, though it didn't help her confidence, it did make her feel less concerned by her own bewilderment.
"Your Majesty, this is a strange situation," he stated, after his customary bow.
"You're telling me," Elsa muttered, "Do you have any idea what's going on?"
"None whatsoever."
Elsa searched his face for any signs of accusation. There did not appear to be any but, seeking to be sure, she asked the question. "Captain Elias, do you think I did this?"
"No, Your Majesty," he responded, his lack of hesitation reassuring her enormously, "I received word from the company that is patrolling the borders and they corroborated the messenger's story. The snowfall in Brimstad had begun a while before it started in Arendelle."
"Be that as it may, Brimstad thinks we're to blame for their sudden winter," Elsa observed, "What's the implication for us?"
"Well, they're a trusted ally. They may have responded petulantly but I believe that in the event of an attack, they would still support us, given King Theodore's close friendship with your father. But I do not know sure," Elias admitted.
"Our military numbers have swelled," he continued, "However, the new recruits, who have been inspired by you, are willing but they are not trained soldiers. We will still need allies to stand with us, especially considering that we don't know what Henrik's plans are."
"Then we have to convince the King that this was not our doing," Elsa decided, as a plan of action formed in her mind.
"We have to try," Elias agreed, "I think that if we send an envoy to tell the King what the snowman told us, it might help. Getting to meet the King, given their current peevishness, will be a challenge though."
"For an ordinary envoy perhaps," Elsa retorted as she stood up, "But not for the Queen."
She could see Elias and William working up to put in their rebuttals and she raised a hand. "I know what you're going to say," she told them, "But my mind is made up. I ride for Brimstad now. Captain Elias, I place you in charge. William will help you. I know that I leave Arendelle in good hands."
"Your Majesty, I must tell you that what you are seeking to do is brave but ill-advised," Elias cut into her pronouncements, "Leaving Arendelle right now will put you at risk. I know that, at this juncture, staying here is not easy for you, but it is for the best."
"Captain Elias, I have spent years locking myself away, thinking that it is for the best," Elsa replied firmly, "I realize now that I was wrong. Speeches and snowstorms aren't the reason I'm Queen. This kingdom and its people are my responsibility now, and I will do whatever it takes to protect them. If that requires me to appease the King of Brimstad, then that is what I will do."
There was a brief silence as Elsa stared down Elias and William, daring them to try to stop her. But she need not have worried, for a sense of admiration was burgeoning in the two men for this young girl who was fast proving more than capable of donning the mantle of leadership that the kingdom needed.
"Very well, Your Majesty," Elias bowed again, "I accept the responsibility you have given me. I will also have some of my men accompany you as you ride to Brimstad."
"Thank you, but not too many please," Elsa grinned, lightening the somber atmosphere, "We don't want the King thinking we're attacking them."
"As you say, Your Majesty," Elias smiled back, "A few, but enough. I will have everything in readiness for your departure in one hour."
"Thank you," Elsa repeated and turned to her assistant, "William, would you…"
"The notices will be taken care of, Your Majesty," he promised her, appearing to have read her mind, and then his voice took on a more imploring note, "Please be careful."
"I will," Elsa smiled reassuringly.
The two men bowed and left to attend to their tasks. Elsa took one last look out of the balcony at the layer of white that lay across her kingdom. Filled with a new determination, she strode out of the study to prepare for her journey.
The chilly air, in stark contradistinction to the summer weather he had dressed for, was causing Kristoff to shiver rather freely as he accompanied the soldiers through the Brimstadmarka. The men had offered their coats to him but he had gallantly refused, claiming that the warmth from Sven would sustain him; a statement that would have carried more conviction if it had not been uttered through chattering teeth.
While actively engaged in trying to stay warm, Kristoff was perturbed too in mind. Upon landing at the Brimstad shore, Lucas, noting Kristoff's weariness, had overridden his protestations and ordered a break. As Kristoff had stretched out on the shore, Lucas had filled him in on all that had happened in Arendelle, including Elsa's plan to freeze the kingdom. Pondering now as he rode, Kristoff knew only too well that the co-operation of the trolls meant that Henrik could fight the cold with cold. It was the extension of winter into Brimstad, though, which disturbed him even more as he wondered if Elsa really was in control of her powers.
Their progress was proving to be another cause for concern thanks to their two prisoners slowing them down to a sluggish crawl. The soldiers had securely bound Shorty and Handlebar's hands and had tethered them to Lucas' horse to ensure their co-operation. Shorty had initially resisted, railing on about inhumane and unjust treatments till Kristoff had reminded him of their actions on the island. Temporarily silenced, the soldier from the Southern Isles along with his taciturn partner now stumbled through the undergrowth, sourly muttering under his breath.
At long last they found themselves out of the forest and Kristoff felt as if he had walked back in time to the year before. The land before them was carpeted in pristine snow, stretching as far as they could see. Trees had been bent over double with the weight upon them, their once green leaves now bleached by winter. As the convoy turned its steps towards Arendelle, Kristoff noticed another group of riders off in the distance. They appeared to be headed for Brimstad but, even as he watched, they changed direction and began to make their way to the Arendellians.
"Do you think this could be trouble?" Kristoff asked uneasily.
One of the men squinted at the riders converging on them. "They appear to be Brimstad soldiers based on their uniforms," he told the rest.
"They are our allies, but be on your guard," Lucas warned, "Right now, there is nothing that we can take for granted."
At Lucas' command they formed a tight circle with Shorty and Handlebar in the centre and Kristoff behind them. They waited with bated breath and they grew more apprehensive as they saw the unfriendly faces that drew near.
"Who are you and what business do you have here?" the first Brimstad rider asked as they came to a halt before the Arendellians.
"We are soldiers of Arendelle," Lucas replied, "We were charged to rescue Mr. Kristoff here from the clutches of the soldiers of the Southern Isles."
"You have no authority here," snapped the cantankerous man, the patch on his shoulder indicating him to be their leader, "You are trespassing in our country."
"I understand that we were unable to follow the right protocol," Lucas tried his most conciliatory tone, "But the matter was of some urgency."
"That is irrelevant," came the stiff response, reminiscent of a broken record, "You are soldiers of Arendelle here in our country without permission and I must take you into custody."
The terse remark caused tempers to flare among the Arendelle soldiers who burst out with angry remonstrations, drawing an equally heated response from the Brimstad troops. Lucas shushed down his men, urging them to remain calm.
"Our countries have always been on good terms," he said, turning to the Brimstadians, "Surely such recourse is unnecessary."
"Those good terms which you speak of have ceased ever since your Queen froze our kingdom," 'Grumpy' countered, "I must take you all to King Theodore who will then decide what is to be done with you."
The situation had reached a dangerous impasse, with the Brimstad soldiers eager to make their arrest and the Arendelle troupe equally determined to resist any attempt of the same. Kristoff stayed at the fringes of the argument, fuming at this unforeseen hindrance. He knew that every passing minute took Anna further from him and he was keen to be away in pursuit at the earliest. Looking longingly toward Arendelle, he suddenly became aware of what appeared to be reinforcements on their way.
The new arrivals advanced unnoticed till they were a mere twenty feet from the squabbling men. Alerted to their presence by a sharp 'Hey', the Arendelle and Brimstad soldiers turned as a man to face the approaching horde. Grumpy called his crew to arms to confront this new threat; an order which he rapidly redacted upon recognizing the leader of the contingent.
"What's going on here?" Elsa asked as she drew up, perplexed by the sight of this multitude of soldiers who appeared to be on the verge of a brawl.
"Your Majesty," Lucas explained, "These men wish to take us to King Theodore."
"Well, I wish to speak with King Theodore too," Elsa told him, much to his chagrin, "So that works out rather well for all of us. Lead the way," she directed the Brimstad soldiers.
"I… yes, of course, Your Majesty, this way please" Grumpy sputtered, equally taken aback at this sudden turn of events, as he set course for Brimstad castle.
Elsa nodded and made to follow them when she caught sight of Kristoff. Coming to an abrupt halt, her poise cracked slightly as she realized that Anna was not with him. Kristoff felt himself flush with shame, only too aware of what Elsa was thinking.
"I'm so sorry, Elsa," he murmured to the ground, unable to bring himself to face her.
"What happened?" she asked, struggling to keep her voice level.
"Henrik took her with him. He threatened to kill me if she didn't co-operate, so she did. I'm really sorry, I shouldn't have..."
"Where is he headed now?" Elsa cut in.
"I don't know," Kristoff confessed, "I was hoping to get back to Arendelle to figure that out with you."
"Well, we'll have to figure it out with King Theodore," Elsa rejoined, becoming brusque again, "Let's get moving."
The Brimstad soldiers bowed and took the lead, followed by Elsa and her now augmented Arendelle guard and Kristoff brought up the rear with Sven and Olaf. As they rode, Kristoff found himself somewhat bemused by Elsa's lack of reaction at the news of Anna's continued captivity. He hadn't, of course, expected her to jump around and tear out her hair, and he felt extremely relieved that she hadn't frozen him on the spot. Nonetheless, having expected some emotion and possibly several harsh words at his failure to protect her sister, he found her reticence worrying.
They travelled steadily through the winding route that led into the heart of the kingdom and soon they began to come upon homesteads. Curious onlookers gathered by the side of their path as the motley crowd went past. Many of the spectators, having assumed unsurprisingly that Elsa was the cause of their discomfort, shot dark looks at her. Conscious of their antagonism, Lucas and his men quickly rode up to stay by Elsa's side to prevent any untoward incidents.
By contrast, Kristoff found himself receiving considerably more positive attention thanks to Olaf. Children were lining up to point and wave excitedly at the little snowman who, unable to indulge in his usual preference for warm hugs, was happy to wave back. Thankful that this sharp contradiction in the Brimstadian attitudes towards Elsa and Olaf was serving at the very least to keep their passage uneventful, Kristoff waved as well, until he caught his first glimpse of Brimstad castle towering up ahead of them and let out a low whistle.
Unlike Arendelle castle which had the advantage of a fjord surrounding it, Brimstad castle was completely land-locked and had therefore been set into the side of a mountain, allowing for a clear view over the kingdom. Elsa had heard rumours of the creation of Brimstad castle; of how one of King Theodore's ancestors, sorely beset by repeated attacks, had abandoned his earlier citadel and had spent the next several years having a fortress hewn out of the mountain itself. The massive castle rose out of solid rock, providing it a sense of impenetrability. The walls, dotted with windows and balconies, retained the dark grey of the stone from which they had been shaped. A rugged rampart, interspersed with watch towers, surrounded the castle and a regular patrol on its walkway prevented unlawful entry.
A curt nod from Grumpy to the guards on the wall and the enormous gates swung ponderously inward, allowing them passage into the castle courtyard. Upon dismounting their horses were led away to the stables to be cared for. Sven brayed sadly to Kristoff who scratched his head while explaining that he did not feel up to asking Elsa or the King to let a reindeer into the castle. His whispered promise to sneak some carrots out later put Sven back into good humour and he trotted off with the other horses, much to the delight of the stable boy who had never had a reindeer to take care of before. As the Arendellians rambled around the courtyard, unsure of what they were to do next, a rotund gentleman in coat-tails and a ruddy complexion made his stately way down the castle steps and approached Elsa.
"The King will see you now, Your Majesty," he announced, solemnly bowing low.
A/N: I've finally let Elsa out of Arendelle. I've been waiting for this since I began and I know some of my reviewers have too so I hope it came across well.
To my guest reviewer, AL, thanks so much for your review. I'm glad you liked Elsa's speech and it didn't seem OOC. You're right, she has been preparing all her life to be the Queen, and in fact, I believe the early drafts of Frozen actually emphasised that a bit more. I agree Henrik seems to gabble on a lot but he will soon be seen in more direct action (but he will continue to gloat, which is an unfortunate characteristic of most villains). And yes, his and Anna's interactions are fun to write. She's not someone who'll ever back down from a fight, is she?
A big thank you to everyone who's been reading and especially to those who have faved/followed/reviewed. Your support and encouragement means a lot.