Author Note: I wish I could say that this lengthy gap between updates was due to something super important, but that would be lying as I have been playing a hella amount of Fallout 4. But the hype has finally died down and I can focus on other things. Thank you for the review ^-^
Elsa trailed her fingers up the bare expanse of Anna's back, leaving frost in her wake. Just because the cold didn't bother her, didn't mean that she couldn't feel it, if Anna's whines of protest were any indication. "Come on, Anna, we need to get up now," she moved her hand lower, "if we don't go soon, my uncle will start to wonder what we were up to to warrant sleeping so late," Elsa gave Anna's rear a light squeeze.
Anna jumped and rolled onto her side, pulling Elsa against her front, "let him wonder. I'm not ashamed," she frowned, "unless you are, Elsa."
Elsa gave Anna a light kiss, smiling against her lips, "I'm not. But if my uncle gets to wondering, then he may send someone to check on me."
"Okay," Anna's eyes narrowed, "and?"
"Well, he will probably send someone who is wondering the same thing," Elsa smiled impishly, "I'm sure that marshal is wondering what is keeping us."
That had Anna out of bed as quick as a bolt of lightning, giving Elsa a most wonderful view of the redhead's body in the daylight. She marveled over how the light streaming in through the window seemed to outline the strongly defined muscles of Anna's back and shoulders as she moved about getting dressed. Anna looked over her shoulder and snorted, "if you keep staring like that we might not leave at all," Anna teased as she hiked up her trousers.
Elsa pouted and stretched languidly across the sheets, "I didn't mean for you to get dressed in such a rush, you just needed to wake up."
Anna made her way back to Elsa and gave her a kiss, "you're cute when you pout."
"That's my line," Elsa complained.
Anna laughed and gave the queen another lingering kiss, smiling against her lips, "besides, now that I'm up, I'm starving," her stomach rumbled loudly, as if to prove her point.
Elsa laughed and finally got up from the bed. She dressed simply, a pale blue dress with a darker bodice and a jacket before she helped Anna button up her out shirt. They shared a chaste kiss before hurrying off to the dining hall. The large double doors opened loudly, announcing their arrival. "I apologize for our lateness, uncle," Elsa bowed her head as she took her seat next to him and Anna in the seat next to her, "we had difficulty rising this morning."
The man chuckled and gave her a knowing grin that causes her cheeks to flush, "oh I'm quite sure you did," he laughed loudly at the queens embarrassment. He allowed her to tuck into her meal, smoked fish and hearty bread and cheese, before speaking again, his voice more authoritative, "I have news for you, both good and bad, about support for Arendelle." That had everyone's attention.
"Well, let's have it then," Marshal demanded impatiently.
"I have received word from my half-brother, Charmant, in Versailles," Adam began, "he has kindly agreed to lend four of his navies finest galleons to ferry my troops to Arendelle and to help secure the coast," he explained evenly.
"That's great!" Olaf chimed.
Anna nodded slowly, "it is great," she shared a look with Elsa before adding, "but I am sensing a 'but' in there."
"Correct," the prince sighed, "he has agreed to ferry my troops, but, he had declined my request that his ships take you across as well, Elsa," he frowned deeply, "he does not wish to involve himself in this mess anymore than he has to. Having you aboard one of his ships could link him as an accessory should your attempt to reclaim your throne go sour. I'm sorry, but you will need to find another way home."
A sullen silence fell over the group. That was not the joyous news that they had been hoping for.
"We could hire a ship," Olaf suggested.
"With what money?" Marshal grumbled loudly, "beside, no merchant ship would be crazy enough to sail us there."
"What about a smuggler ship?" Kristoff asked, only to jump back from the table when ice raced across the table towards him.
"No more smugglers," Elsa snapped.
"Alright," he conceded, sitting back down once the ice had receded. He sighed and looked to Marshal, "and I take it that you are against a small boat to sail and row home?"
"We nearly sank. Twice," the massive knight reminded him.
Kristoff threw his hands up in defeat, "well I'm out of ideas then."
"What season is it, Kristoff?" Anna asked, eyes narrowed in thought.
Kristoff blinked and shared a glance with Sven, "nearing the end of summer, I guess."
She nodded slowly, "and Prince Adam, about how many days would it take to get to Dunkirk?"
"Days," the prince snorted, "one, barely even that," the prince replied.
Both Kristoff and Sven's eyes widened, "Anna, no! That is a terrible idea!" Kristoff nearly yelled.
"Anna, yes!" The redhead snipped, "it's the best idea we have."
"That doesn't make it a good one!"
"Well it beats swimming home!"
"I think I would rather swim!"
"Then by all means, be my guest!"
"What's in Dunkirk?" Elsa asked loud enough to be heard over their senseless argument.
"Our best chance at getting home in one piece," Anna replied.
Kristoff scoffed, "says you. Anna he is a -"
"Captain," Anna interrupted, "with his own ship and no loyalty to the Southern Isles."
"No loyalty at all is more like it," Kristoff grunted.
Anna glared at him and continued, "he owes me a favour and I trust him. That's all that matters. If we hurry, we can catch him before he heads to Havana for the winter," she looked at Elsa, "but it's your call, Elsa."
Elsa was silent as she thought out her options before finally deciding, "I wish to at least meet with this captain, see him for myself. If Anna trusts him, then he is our best shot."
Anna smiled at Elsa, and gave her thanks in the form of a light kiss on the cheek. She then turned her sights to the others, "alright, finish your meals and then pack up what you need," she instructed, "I want to be heading out by midday."
The urgency in the redhead's voice seemed to spur the others on, even Kristoff in his reluctance to meet with this captain in Dunkirk, packed his satchel in a rush. Everyone was eager to return home, Elsa most of all. She haphazardly packed what little her uncle had given her and her few belongings into a small satchel of her own. Lastly she made to pack her gloves. She ran her fingers over the soft teal fabric and smiled as she willed a small flower of frost to bloom on the back of each, a testament of how far she had come. Elsa thought briefly about leaving the gloves behind. She no longer needed them, so she had no reason to keep them. They were a symbol of her lack of control, but they were also a gift from Anna. Remembering this, Elsa lovingly folded the gloves and neatly placed them in the satchel, buckling it closed.
"You ready to, Elsa?" Anna asked, leaning against the doorframe to the bedroom dressed in her leathers and a thin cloak.
Elsa scooped up Anna heavy fur-lined cloak and nodded, "let's go home."
The men were waiting for them by the gate, each dressed in their own armours and mounted on their horses. Anna helped Elsa onto her horse before mounting Prince and taking the lead.
Adam and Belle approached the group, flanked by two mounted guards. "Good luck, Elsa," Belle chimed sweetly.
"Yes, and once you have regained your kingdom, write to me once in a while for god's sake," Adam laughed loudly. "These two here will accompany you to Dunkirk and retrieve your horses," he nodded and the guards rode forth. He noted how Anna frowned and ruffled Prince's mane and smiled, "worry not, your horse will be well cared for here, and when you are ready, I will arrange for him to be sent to you."
Anna lit up at that, "thank you, thank you so much!" She gave her horse a hearty pat before pulling on his reins, "let's go!"
The small group raced out of the gates filled with hope and determination. With luck on their side, they made it to the outskirts of Dunkirk by sunset. They left their horses with the guards and, at Anna's urging, wrapped themselves tightly in their cloaks. She lead them through a labyrinth of back streets until they reached the docks. Ships of all shapes and sizes were docked from one end of the pier to the packed together and awash with activity, even in the dying light. "We are looking for a ship with a red hull," Anna explained, "big very, gaudy. If we are lucky, they will still be here."
They trudged down to one end of the pier, scanning every ship until they reached the end. With tired groans they turned and started the other way. They were about to pack it in until Anna bolted past them to a ship docked at the very end, set away from the others, "there it is!" She cheered.
The hull of the ship was indeed red, a deep crimson, with detail work, including a skull motif on the stern, painted in a golden yellow. It was quite a sight to behold, a massive frigate class ship. Anna hurried along the side of the ship, searching for any sign of the crew. She finally spotted a portly man wearing a bright red cap and an ill fitted striped shirt, "ahoy," she called, startling the man to the point where his spectacles fell right off of his bulbous nose.
"Y-yes?" He stammered in a nazily voice.
"I wish to speak with the captain," Anna informed the man.
"The captain does not take visitors," he snipped as he put his spectacles back on. He froze when his eyes landed on Anna, "you!"
"Yes, me,and unfortunately, it wasn't a request to see the captain," she nodded to Kristoff, "grab him."
With a heavy sigh, Kristoff stalked forward and tossed the struggling man onto his shoulder as Anna and the others walked past them and up the gangway.
"Captain!" The portly man cried out, "captain! We've been boarded!"
From below deck, the crew began to emerge. Each dressed in tattered trousers and loose shirts and vests. Before they could start an attack on the intruding six, the door to the captain's quarters burst open, "what is all this noise about?" The captain snapped. The captain was a tall, lanky man with long curly black hair and a thin mustache that pointed out on either side of with face, his nose was long and his eyes black as night. He was dressed far finer than his crew, shining black boots, immaculate trousers and a pink shirt, with a pearly white cravat to finish the look. He scanned over the group, his eyes narrowing at the sight of Anna. He raised his left arm and pointed at her with a wickedly sharp hook, "you have a lot of nerve showing up here," he ground out as he walked towards her, Anna met him halfway, drawing out one of her daggers, "after the trouble you caused me, I ought to gut you, you pathetic half grown assassin," he tapped the point of the hook to her armour, just above her heart.
Anna held her dagger to the captain's throat, "I'd like to see you try, you dandy fop of a pirate."
There was a tense moment where Elsa was sure that a battle would break out on the deck. The crew, pirates everyone, had half drawn their swords, and Olaf , Marshal, Sven and Kristoff, with the portly pirate still swung over his shoulder, had surrounded her protectively. Just as the the two groups were about to clash, Anna and the Captain burst out laughing, clasping each other's forearms in a hearty shake.
"It's good to see that you haven't gotten yourself killed, Anna my girl," the Captain smiled, giving her a pat on the back.
Anna chuckled, "and good to see that you haven't done the hangman's jig yet," she turned to the group, "very good since we desperately need your help."
The captain frowned, "that never bodes well for me," he turned and motioned for them to follow, "just the ladies please," he glanced over his shoulder, "and for god's sake, Kristoff, put Mr. Smee down, you're terrifying my poor bo'son."
As they followed the hook-handed captain, Elsa couldn't help but wrap her arms around herself. She leaned over and harshly whispered to Anna, "you didn't tell me that this captain was a pirate!"
Anna looked scolded, "if I had you wouldn't have agreed to this. Please, just trust me on this one, Elsa, he is our best bet at getting home. He just might need some convincing."
"Convincing?" Elsa stopped just outside of the doors to the captain's cabin, "you said he owed you!"
Anna nodded, "he does, but he is still a pirate. He doesn't like doing anything for free." With that, Anna lead Elsa into the cabin, closing the doors behind them.
The captain eyed the two as they sat on the other side of the elegant desk that was covered in maps and charts, "well, Anna, do you not plan on introducing us?" He sounded rather annoyed by her lack of courtesy.
Anna jolted up, "oh! Oh yes," she glanced at Elsa, "Elsa, this is James Hook, Captain of the Jolly Roger. Captain, Queen Elsa, of Arendelle."
Hook raised an eyebrow at that, "the queen you say?" He bowed his head, "tis a pleasure to meet royalty," he smiled thinly, "what is it that you require of me and my crew?"
"Oh nothing too much," Anna forced a laugh, "we merely need a lift back to Arendelle."
"Out of the question," Hook replied. When he was met by Anna's shocked expression, he elaborated, "that would put me way off schedule of getting south to Havana, plundering season e starting soon," he Hook explained as he leaned back in his seat, polishing his hook with a scrap of cloth, "and besides, if rumours serve true, Arendelle is under the rule of a Prince of the Southern Isles. Do you know what they do to pirates in the Southern Isles?"
Anna was on her feet in moments, slamming her hands on the desk, "you owe me!" She snapped.
"I owe your master, and that debt is not worth my life," he said simply, "though I do continue to be ever grateful that you got Pan out of my hair, I will not die for that gratitude."
"Coward," Anna spat.
"If valuing my life makes me a coward, than aye. I am a coward, not even your fiery attitude can change that," he replied evenly.
Elsa pressed a finger to her temple, scrunching up her face, "a lordship," she said quietly, drawing their attention, "what if I were to give you a lordship in Arendelle. A small port town. Once I take back Arendelle it's yours."
Anna and Hook both stared blankly at the queen, "Elsa, I know I said that I trusted him, but don't you think this is being rash?"
"A lord, you say?" Hook grinned, "I do believe that we have a deal. We set sail on the morrow."
"We leave now," Anna scowled, "right now."
With a laugh, Hook stood, "always so demanding, but we can't. The night is still, it would take us ages to launch," he explained evenly.
Elsa bit her lip in concentration and flicked her hand, summoning up a strong chilly wind. As she ship creaked and rocked, Elsa smiled, "seems like the winds favour us."
Hook stood slowly, looking about in confusion, eyes narrowing, "so be it." As he left they heard him call out, "hoist the anchor, boys, we set sail for the north!"
Once he was gone, Elsa allowed herself to slump down in her seat, a lightly laugh escaping her, "pirate's, really, Anna?"
Anna shrugged, "what can I say, I'm well connected," she raised a brow at Elsa, "and what was that trick with the wind. I didn't know you could do that."
"to be honest, I didn't know I could, either. I just took a chance and hoped," Elsa said as she stood.
The ship lurched, sending Elsa to the floor and the sails caught the strong wind she had created. They were moving. She reached out and clung to Anna, who helped her stand. Anna placed a gentle kiss to Elsa's quivering lips, "you're going to be okay, Elsa. This ship is sturdier than most. And we have cannons. We will make it home," she cupped the queen's cheeks and smiled, "let's find you some place to rest up, and maybe," another kiss, this time to the tip of her nose, "find something to take your mind off of things."
Elsa blushed lightly, her fear of the ship momentarily forgotten, "I like the sounds of that."en, "I like the sounds of that."