A/N The story is drawing to a close and I'd like to thank all those who've read, reviewed, followed, and favorited.

The next chapter will be the second-to-last. I'll catch you then!

Kai sat at his desk and kneaded his brow with one hand. Too long. Queen Elsa had been gone for too long. What had she told him to do if she didn't return? He had waited hoping that she might just be a little late. But he knew she would return.

"If we don't return within three days you'll have to prepare Arendelle for the worst."

Three days. It had been more than twice that. Kai new that every second that passed after the three-day mark put them all in danger but he refused to give up on the queen. Elsa's instructions had been clear. He was to cover for her absence. But should she not return...

"If neither Anna nor I return than I give you the authority to appoint a new ruler for Arendelle."

Kai looked at the legal document that rested at the side of his elbow. The document gave him the legal right to decide the fate of the country as of more than three days past. He had tried to get her to reconsider. Surely there were people more qualified than he.

"Right now I trust you more than anyone else in the castle. I know that you can do it."

According to her instructions he had waited much, much too long already. But he kept hoping she would come back. He had waited for as long as he could.

"Do you truly think there is a chance you might not return?" he had asked. She hadn't responded.

Kai rolled the document up and rose to his feat. He walked to the door; it was time to tell them. He left the room and quickly made his way through the hall in the palace. He stopped when he came to a large double-door that lead to the council room. He had postponed and delayed for as long as he could. But he could no longer. He opened the doors and walked into the room. With the curtains drawn the room's full splendor was shone. For the first time Kai didn't waste so much as a moment to admire the room's glory. Instead he walked straight to the head of the table. At it rested the ornate chair that Elsa had sat in. At first Elsa had wanted to remove it in favor of a much plainer one but Kai had been able to convince her otherwise. It still felt like a taboo for Kai to actually sit in the chair so he instead stood beside it and waited. He didn't have to wait long. Soon the council of ministers, secretaries, and representatives were lead in. All of them sat immediately at their seats according to previous assignment, each with a staff member at their side. Over the last few months the staff had grown exponentially and Kai had trouble naming all of them. Only two seat where empty. One was the queens and the others was Jacob's. Jacob was one of the newer members but Kai had been told that he too would be absent This extra bit of attention made it easy for Kai remembering him.

Kai had delayed the reveal for as long as he could. But the day had come when he could no longer avoid it. He waited a moment for all those attending to look his way. No one knew why Elsa, who was usually so prompt, had not yet been seated. Even some the staff members looked confused.

"She has a headache I'm afraid."

"Terribly sorry but the queen is indisposed right now."

"She said she would see no one for the rest of the day."

All lies he had told to duck suspicion. To carry him to this moment. And now the time had finally come. Kai cleared his throat. "Queen Elsa shall not be joining us for this meeting."

The man to his right, a senior member who Kai had never much liked named Gunnar stood up. "What do you mean she isn't attending?" As he spoke a collective murmur rose amongst those at the table.

"Please remain seated," Kai said. "Several days ago Jacob, our emissary to the southern reaches, arrived with dire news for Queen Elsa. I have no doubt that most of you have at least heard rumors of this."

Again a murmur spread over the room.

"Thereafter Elsa left Arendelle along with her sister and Jacob to address the matters presented by the emissary."

Another person stood up. "What do you mean to say by this?" she demanded.

"He said remain seated," Gunnar said.

"But she proposes a valid point," said one of the newer members. A somewhat loud woman by the name of Margrete. Kai had learned her name right away.

Rather than respond Kai unrolled the parchment that held Elsa's final declaration. He cleared his throat and began to read.

"As of the fifteenth of this month I, Elsa, Queen of Arendelle, shall depart with my sister, Anna. I have been informed of a danger that threatens my kingdom along with its population, whom I love dearly. I leave with the intentions of stopping the approaching threat myself in order to assure the safety of the people. If by three days or greater hence I do not return I bestow Kia, who has served the crown loyally for more than two decades, the authority to make further executive decisions for Arendelle. If both myself and Anna are confirmed to be dead, or fail to return for a further three weeks, I trust Kia to appoint a member of the council to take my place."

Kia set the document onto the table.

"This is outrageous!" someone shouted.

"She gave you this power?" Gunnar exclaimed. "You're just a staff member! I'm the most senior council member! I should be the one to take on this role!"

"Don't question the queen's word!" Margrete countered.

"How could she have acted so foolishly!" another yelled.

"How do we know this is real? Prove that this isn't some attempt at stealing the throne!"

Kai was trying to keep his temper. With all the absurd things these hooligans were spouting it wasn't easy.

"This document is entirely legal." Kai slid it further down the table to display Elsa' name signed at the bottom alongside notarizations. "I have no desire to take Elsa's place and I refuse to accept that she shall not return. I have waited for as long as I could, praying for her return. But she is yet to and I have begun to fear for Arendelle-" he stopped short as Gerda hurriedly entered the room.

She spoke between pants of breath without pausing to excuse her intrusion. "A group of fully armed war wagons have been reported to be approaching the gates of Arendelle. I've been told that they hold Queen Elsa as prisoner."

Without thinking twice Kai left the council behind and ran to the door.

"Close the gates!" were his parting words.

-x-X-x-

Kai began to regret having not spent more time exercising as he scaled the steps that lead above the gates. Ge was glad that he least able to out speed the council members who had followed him. As he rounded a landing he heard the boom as the gates slammed shut. Kai had stared at the gates' closed for thirteen years. He had hoped that he wouldn't have to see them as such ever again. But stopping whoever it was who invaded was what was the most important thing.

Kai made it to the top and ran to the large rounded window, the others close behind. From it he could clearly see and be seen. In front of the gates was a group of war wagons. Not a soul was seen in the town as people hid in their homes. Around the wagons were a circle of guards. But they couldn't budge. Not an inch. For in the center of the wagons stood an armored man with ropey black hair. Beside him was Queen Elsa. Her hands were bound behind her back and her mouth was gagged. The man walked around her with a sword drawn. Elsa stood rigid with her eyes fixed straight ahead.

"So these are the great gates of Arendelle!" the man shouted. "So frail a lock it is that keeps you safe!"

"Who are you who holds our queen hostage?" Kai shouted down trying desperately to keep the fear from his voice.

"We are the Army of the Wastes! I am Snake! ruler of the barren realm! Kjetil of the deadly blade! Conqueror of lands!"

Snake held his sword to Elsa's throat as he walked around her."And now I am supreme ruler of Arendelle!"

"We'll never allow this!" shouted one of the guards.

Snake glared at the young guard. "Drop your arms and concede!"

"Hold your position!" Gunnar called from behind Kai. Kai shot him a glare but didn't say anything. For more than two decades his purpose had been simple. Serve and protect Elsa. He was powerless to stop this man, this Snake.

Snake leaned close to Elsa and muttered something into her ear. Elsa' stoic face became distraught and he pulled the gag from around her mouth.

"Do as he says," Elsa called.

"She's so stupid!" Gunnar banned his fist against the wall.

"We can't let her die," Margrete countered.

Kai said nothing as the guards dropped their weapons. Men emerged from the war wagons and gathered them, piling them beside Snake.

Snake slowly drew his sword across Elsa's cheek. A thin line of read followed behind it and a trickle of blood dripped down her face.

"I am the new king of this country!" Snake shouted. "Open the gates!"