"I have been telling you all the very same thing time and time again for the past several months.
We all know what I have said is true. Queen Elsa is not the most suitable choice for our kingdom. I know that you all agree with me.
Princess Anna should be on the throne. It is her destiny." Captain Roald booms out over the deck. "Do not let a guilty conscience get in the way. You are sailors: you have no conscience! This is the best choice for all of Arendelle."
Crew members are vigorously nodding their approval.
"I say we carry out my plan. I will not have my ship sailing after nothing until we all die.
If Queen Elsa really cares about you, would she not wish us to return to Arendelle safely? Would it not be in our best interest to sail home? Instead she demands that we keep sailing North!"
A couple of outraged cries break out.
"In the name of Arendelle, I demand that we let the ocean take our queen as it's burden!"
Someone yells out, "And her fiery friend, too!"
"Death to the witches!" Another demands.
"Conceal. Don't feel. Conceal. Don't feel." Ember is muttering desperately to himself.
So this is it; we have come all this way only to be thrown over the edge of the Gerda to be swallowed for lunch by the great ocean. Is this how Fate has chosen it to be?
My own people wish my death. This brings devastation into my soul.
"All in favor of disposing of our queen," Captain Roald announces. "Say 'aye'!"
Many "aye's" passionately rise up from the crowd of people. With each individual one, I feel a stab of remorse pierce through my heart.
"You heard them!" Captain Roald yells out to the mates restraining Ember and I. "We shall not waste a moment longer. Throw them overboard! We want to return home!"
I am dragged to the edge of the Gerda, I want to resist, but my body is too tired. I am helpless to do anything but follow.
I notice that Ember's chanting has gotten much louder, which leads me to think that he is losing grip on his powers. His face is twisted into a painful expression, I notice that his hair is wet and sweaty. His brow is beaded.
Captain Roald advances toward me, coming within mere inches of my face. I can smell the stench on his breath.
"I have been waiting for this moment for a very, very long time, my queen."
I glare at him.
"Dispose of them!" He orders.
"Conceal. Don't feel!" Ember's voice is panicked.
"WAIT!"
Time stops.
The crew mates holding onto Ember and I pause, stupidly.
Captain Roald's face is set in a dumbfounded expression.
The entire crew is hushed.
Hemmin pushes through the crowd of sailors and toward the edge of the Gerda where Ember and I are about to become shark food.
"Stop." It thuds out onto the upper deck.
"Hemmin?" Captain Roald manages to get this one word out.
"I ask that you release Elsa, father." It is a demand, not a request.
"That isn't possible, Hemmin-"
"Hear me out." She addresses the entire crew of the Gerda. "Ever since we left Arendelle several months ago, all I have ever heard any of you talk about is how you think that Princess Anna should be ruler of Arendelle.
But, never have any of you been able to say a single bad thing of Elsa.
Do you know why this is? It is because she has warmed your hearts and you know it. You are afraid to admit it, but you know this is why you have hesitated to carry out your plan for so long.
"Before you dispose of Arendelle's queen, I ask that you think this through logically first.
You have not seen any proof that Princess Anna is actually a good ruler. For all you know, the kingdom might have totally fallen apart during our absence.
Does it make sense to you to get rid of a perfectly good ruler when all you have against her is a mere belief that someone else could do the job better?"
Silence is met with Hemmin's moving speech. Perhaps I am the only one that finds it moving, nevertheless, there is still silence.
"I propose that you allow Elsa to return to Arendelle. Let all of the people of Arendelle choose who is to be their queen. Do not choose for them."
She looks intimidatingly over the crew. "What do you say? All in favor... say 'aye'!"
Silence.
My heart was hopeful, but with this silence brings much doubt.
They are not going to be deterred. They are going to continue with their plan.
"Aye." Aksel steps forward. I can't help but let the biggest smile cross my face.
With this move, a few others scattered around the deck let their 'aye's' be heard.
More and more mates are seconding this new motion, until almost everyone has come to an agreement.
Captain Roald looks greatly displeased.
"The crew wishes she return to Arendelle, Father." She thuds at him.
"I see." He growls. "Then return to Arendelle she shall."
"Release her, boys." Hemmin thuds her command to the mates still holding on to Ember and I.
They unbound the rope from our wrists.
"Come on, Elsa." Hemmin guides me back down to my room.
Once inside, I wrap my arms around her in an enthusiastic hug.
"Thank you, Hemmin!" I exclaim fervently. "You're a true friend!"
I feel her body grow stiff beneath my fingers. She pushes me away.
Her eyes bare into me, hard and cold.
"I am not your friend."
"I don't understand..." I say, my voice hardly audible.
"It wasn't out of charity that I saved your guts out there." She sneers. "I have my own motives for keeping you alive."
I say nothing. Really, what would you say to that?
"You see, Elsa," Her thuds bounce off the floor, with a cruelness to them. "I promise that you will return to Arendelle... but I will do it for you."
Hemmin's body changes before my eyes. Her dull, brown hair is lightening so that it is so blonde, it is nearly white. Her skin becomes porcelain and clear. She becomes much taller, much thinner, and much more regal. Her beady eyes morph into the color of the very sea we have been sailing on for months.
When this transformation is fulfilled, I find myself staring back at... myself.
Hemmin is a shapeshifter!