"Wake up! C'mon. It's already late."
Anna mumbled something incoherent as she turned over in her sleep. Elsa sighed seeing that her sister wasn't going to wake up. She tried shaking Anna to no avail.
"Anna! You're going to be late for your duties!" Elsa shouted as she shook Anna again. This time Anna reacted by pushing Elsa of the bed.
"Aah!" Elsa shrieked as she was forced of the bed, landing with a loud thump on the floor. Elsa growled as she sat up. "How to wake her up?" A smirk formed on Elsa's face as she, with a flick of her wrist, made a pile of snow crash on Anna's face.
"AAH!" Anna screamed so loudly she could have woken up half or Arendelle! "ELSA!"
"I did tell you to get up." She replied as Anna wiped the snow of her face. "You're going to be late."
Anna just groaned in response. "I can get up when I like!"
"Yesterday you told me you were so eager to show your Queenly skills." Elsa said. Noticing Anna was ignoring her, she sarcastically added, "Which you are doing a very good job of!"
"Ugh. Can't it wait till Lunch time." Anna asked as one of her eyes opened half way.
"It is lunch time."
"I meant my lunch time, I didn't even know you had a lunch time." Anna joked as she closed her eyes and tried to drift of again. Elsa reacted by causing another mini avalanche to crash down on Anna's face again, followed by a massive pile of snow on her body.
"ELSA!" Anna screamed irritably, as she wiped the snow off her face and tried to dig her way out of the snow pile that was her bed. She grabbed a handful of the white powder and threw it at Elsa, who dodged it by a furlong and retaliated by melting all the snow into very cold water.
Anna screamed as she jumped out of the bed, soaked in near-zero degree water. "You wait till I get changed!" She screamed as she glared at a giggling Elsa. Anna then smirked as she said, "Or maybe I should lock you in the dungeon for engaging the Current Queen. I can do that since you said yourself that I am Queen for a while longer."
The smile on Elsa's face vanished as she remembered that Anna technically had the power to do that. But she smirked as she said, "Really Anna! You wouldn't do that to your own sister..." The smirk on Elsa's face vanished when she noticed that the expression on Anna's face didn't change.
"Wouldn't I?" Anna asked, still glaring at her sister, as Elsa retreated back a bit noticing that Anna may very well be serious.
"Anna? You're joking right?" Elsa asked starting to tense up a bit as Anna walked over to the door and opened it. "Anna?"
Now Elsa was starting to feel scared. Anna really wasn't playing around. Anna called out for Kai from the doorway. Within seconds, the family butler had arrived at the doorsteps.
"Yes your majesty. What may it be at this time in the morning?" Kai asked. He took notice of Anna's drenched nightgown, and Elsa standing in the bedroom staring nervously between kai and Anna. "Everything alright your majesty?"
"Not really. My sister seems to have assaulted me this morning against my wishes and I would like to teach her a lesson, since I am currently the Queen." Anna said to Kai seriously. A second after that Anna quickly added a small wink and smile, which was not seen by her sister. Kai's eyes widened slightly noticing what Anna meant by that. He fought back a smile as he said. "Of course your majesty. Would you like me to fetch the guards?"
"What?" Elsa screamed from within the room.
"Yes please." Anna replied pretending to ignore Elsa, who was completely oblivious to the little prank that Anna was pulling.
"Right away Queen Anna! GUARDS!" Kai yelled out down the hallway. Anna and Kai could hear Elsa give out a little whimper from behind, and had to muster all their control to prevent themselves from bursting out in laughter. Within seconds, several guards came running up towards the Acting Queen and butler. As they approached, both Anna and Kai gave a little look and a wink at the guards. Since these 3 guards were very accustomed with Princess Anna's pranks, considering that they have aided her numerous times in pranks during both her parents, and Elsa's reign, they immediately knew what was up. They flashed back a small smile as they approached the room with Kai, Anna, and a slightly frightened Elsa.
"Yes your majesty?" One of the guards asked, trying to put on a very believable act. "What has happened?"
"As you can see..." Anna said gesturing to her soaked dress, "...My sister has, against my orders, disrupted my daily routine and assaulted me with snow. I wish to teach her a lesson. Please bring her to the dungeon for several hours. Maybe she will know better than to attack the Queen after her little time out."
"Anna! No!" Elsa said as she started to feel scared, reflected by the ice that was now forming on the floor and walls. "Y-You can't do this. I-I'm your sister!"
Anna just grinned evilly as the guards walked into the room holding shackles. Elsa just stared in shock. She could not believe that Anna really was going to do this. The ice on the walls started to thicken as she stumbled backwards searching for a place to hide. She didn't want to hurt the guards, yet she was so in shock of what her sister had done, that she did not see where she was going. In an attempt to escape, Elsa turned around and ran, head first into the wall she did not expect to be there before collapsing to the floor, her hand clasped over her nose.
"Elsa!" Anna screamed in shock as the guards gasped and Kai's eyes widened. This was not part of the prank. She ran over to her sister who was on the floor, still holding her nose. "Are you alright?"
"Please don't lock me up! I'm sorry I soaked you. Please, I'm your sister!" Elsa said as tears began to form in the corner of her eyes. Anna looked at her sister sadly. Maybe this prank had gone a little too far.
"Oh Elsa. I would never do that." Anna said with a smile. "I was just joking. It was all a prank. Me, Kai and the guards were all in on it." The guards gave a small smile while Kai restrained his laughter as Gerda approached him.
"What is going on?" Gerda asked as she stood next to Kai.
"Anna decided to prank her sister. It went wrong and Elsa ended up running into a wall. I think we're all about to get a hammering." Kai whispered as he watched the two sisters.
"A prank?" Elsa said in shock, blinking back the tears that threatened to fall as she processed what had happened. "A prank!" She said, this time a little more loudly as the frightened look was now replaced with one of anger.
"Oh boy." One of the guards muttered as he and the other two began to back up to the doorway. Kai could sense what was soon to happen and decided that, for safety reasons, he move to a different part of the castle.
"Kai?" Gerda asked as she noticed that he started briskly walking away. "Where are you going?"
"Anywhere but here!" He said as the speed walk turned into a run. Gerda decided that for best interests, she follow as well.
"Anna!" Elsa growled as she stood up and removed her hand from her face, anger flashing in her crystal blue eyes. Anna gasped as she saw that the impact that Elsa had made with the wall, had left her with a bloodied nose.
"Ooh." Anna winced as she looked at the blood that was coming from her sister's nose. Though Anna had gotten nose bleeds before, she was sure that her sister wouldn't treat it as lightly as she did with her's. "We can fix that."
Elsa just continued to glare at Anna as she pondered what to do with her little sibling. "I think you should start running."
"Hmm?" Anna asked, as though she did not here her sister's dangerous growl.
"RUN!" Elsa shouted as she lunged at Anna.
"I'M OUT OF HERE!" One of the guards screamed as he ran out of the room leaving his other two comrades behind. "EVERY MAN AND PRINCESS FOR THEMSELVES!" The other two didn't need telling twice as they sped out of the door, not caring where they were going as long as it was away from the extremely angered Elsa.
"Aah!" Anna screamed as her sister gave chase. She couldn't help but laugh at how gullible her sister was. But that though quickly vanished as she saw a very large snowball fly past her. "Aah!"
Anna turned to the left, hoping to lose Elsa on the stairs. She quickly slid down the banisters as she saw her sister stop at the top. Anna laughed as she noticed how her sister had not learned how to slide down, but that was soon replaced with a gasp as she saw her sister convert the entire staircase into an ice slide and slide down it.
"You wait till I get my hands on you!" Elsa screamed as she got closer to Anna. Despite the anger in her voice, Anna could swear she sensed a slightly playful tone in her sister's voice. But she didn't have enough time to think as the end of the staircase was approaching. Anna, having years of experience, jumped of the banister in one swift move and landed on her feet. Without even so much as slowing down, she continued to run, and could have sworn she heard her sister saw wow.
Anna took a turn to the left as she ran down a hallway towards the exterior of the castle. She slammed open the doors as she ran out into a side path within the castle walls. She could see her sister trailing behind her. Anna saw another door up ahead. The door to the town! Escape! Anna laughed at the thought of actually being the winner of this debacle that she failed to see that the door in front of her was completely locked.
Elsa gasped when she saw the locked door and tried to scream at Anna. Sadly, Anna interpreted that as another way to get her to stop so she instead sped up and ran shoulder first into the locked door.
"I declare you fit to leave the bed last night, and you two are somehow already injured again?" Robert said as he shook his head. "What am I going to do with you two." He said as he looked at the two sisters who were now in the castle's infirmary. Luckily, the impact Elsa had with the wall had not broken her nose, but it had left it bleeding for awhile, even while the two sisters were brought to the infirmary. Anna's shoulder impact with the locked door was not so lucky. The impact had left the princess with a dislocated arm which now had to be fixed.
Robert sighed as he informed his assistant to clean the blood off Elsa's nose, while he himself looked at Anna's dislocated shoulder.
"Anna. I'll be frank with you. This is going to hurt since I'm going to have to force your arm back into it's socket." Robert said as he grabbed a sling from the cabinet. To Elsa's surprise, instead of Anna freaking out or possibly trying to make a run for it, she just nodded as if it was nothing. This did not go unnoticed by Robert. "Don't worry Elsa. This isn't the first time that your sister has dislocated something."
Elsa's eyes opened even wider as the doctor added, "As a matter of fact, during her younger years she was quite a frequent visitor."
"It wasn't that frequent." Anna said as she pouted.
"You call once a week not frequent?" Robert asked. "You still won't answer me how you managed to break your arm 3 times in one week. I send you home with your left arm in a cast and you return 3 days later with a broken right arm. Within 2 days you have somehow managed to re-break your left arm." Noticing Elsa was gaping he said, "After that, me and your parents decided that it was best to keep her in the infirmary for a month while you healed."
"More like locked up!" Anna scoffed.
"Well, I know it's not in my right to say this, but I have to. You are extraordinarily careless. Even your parents agreed. Your medical records accommodate an entire cabinet designed to accommodate the records of 100 people!" Robert said with a chuckle as Anna whistled guiltily and Elsa just continued to gape in shock. "Anyway, time to get to the relocating part. Are you ready?"
Anna nodded as Elsa walked up to her and put her hand on her younger sister's shoulders.
"Are you ready?" The doctor asked again.
"Yes." Anna said as she closed her eyes and braced for the pain that was about to happen...
"Hey Tracy! You want a piece of Apple pie?" A guard called Jason asked as he put a small pie on the table.
"Looks delicious. Who made it?" The other guard, Tracy asked.
"My wife." Jason replied. He was about to cut a slice when a sudden scream caused him to drop the knife.
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!
"What the heck was that?" Tracy asked in shock as he could see several of the other guards on the wall stiffen while others pulled out their swords and looked around for the source of the scream. Jason, having worked as Princess Anna's personal bodyguard, knew all to well who and what had casued the scream.
Sigh...
"Looks like Princess Anna has somehow injured herself yet again." Jason said as he shook his head. "I think we spend more on her medical expense than we do on everyone else combined!" Tracy couldn't help but laugh.
"Well, when you're crazy enough to start swinging on the window washers platform..." Tracy said, remembering the princess on the Queen's coronation day. "...and climb roof's, it's not really that surprising."
"Common occurrence now that they're back together. But Arendelle could never be happier." Jason said as he cut a slice of pie and handed it to his fellow guard.
"My God Anna! I think Weselton could have heard that scream!" Elsa said with a laugh as she saw her sister whimpering while rubbing her now relocated arm. The physician grabbed the sling and set Anna's arm up.
"There." Robert said as he secured the princess's arm in the sling. "Now please try not to return here with another injury for at least a month. If that's possible."
Anna just rolled her eyes as she stood up, her sister following. "I guess that was unlucky." She said as she looked at the sling her arm was in.
"That's what you get for playing pranks on people." Elsa replied as her and her sister locked arms.
"Ha! It was all worth it to see the look on your face. You looked like you were going to cry." Anna said with a laugh.
"So is that why you played the prank? Just to see me cry again? Is thirteen years not enough?" Elsa asked her face crestfallen. Anna felt her heart sink upon hearing this.
"No Elsa. That's not what I meant. I didn't mean anything by it. I just wanted to see the shocked look. I wasn't expecting you to cry. That's why I stopped" Anna said in an effort to prevent her sister from having another emotional breakdown. "Well actually it was you running into the wall that caused me to stop. How you managed to do that I will never know."
"You try thinking straight when your sister is trying to lock you up in a dungeon. You know how I react when I hear the words lock up and Elsa in the same sentence. I'm surprised I'm not claustrophobic yet." Elsa said as she locked eyes with her sister.
Anna had completely forgotten how Elsa tended to react to being locked up. After all, she had spent 13 years in what was essentially a jail cell, and now Anna had just pulled a prank that threatened to lock her sister up in the dungeon. No wonder she reacted the way she did, Anna thought.
"I'm really sorry Elsa." Anna said. "I forgot about what happened. I just wanted to play a prank on you. I didn't want to scar you for life." Anna was now teary eyed at the thought of how frightened her sister must have been at her little prank. To Elsa it would have seemed more like her nightmares were coming true. Her sister abandoning her, being locked up, and being arrested. Anna may have essentially recreated Elsa's worst nightmare with her little escapade.
"It's okay Anna. Even if you did go ahead with it, I wouldn't have thought any different of you. I would still forgive you and love you." The elder said causing Anna to start crying. "No! Don't cry..."
Elsa pulled her younger sister into a hug. They stood there for several minutes taking in each others embrace. Finally, in an attempt to calm things down, Elsa said with a chuckle, "If it's any consolation, I will get my revenge somehow."
Anna laughed in response as she wiped away the tears from her face. "I'm the prankster, not you. You'll never get me."
"We'll see."
The sisters started giggling before Elsa said, "Now c'mon. Let's get to the council before they start getting rowdy again."
"Your majesty. Your majesty!" General Albert said in shock as he caught sight of Queen Elsa. "Let me express my relief that you are alright."
"Thank you umm..." Elsa replied not knowing the name of the General in front of her.
"General Albert." Anna whispered to her sister.
"...General Albert." Elsa completed as she sat down next to her sister.
"Alright. So we uh, we got your request to keep Anna as the Acting Queen for the next week. It has approved and we have decided to skip the act of asking why. Shall we get on with proper business your majesty?"
"Of course." Both the girls said simultaneously. They looked at each other in shock and tried to restrain themselves from giggling.
"Oookay then..." Albert said awkwardly. "So, as you know, the previous prime minister will no longer be with us for a very long time. For those who don't know what happened, George was stupid enough to threaten the King of Solaris. He is now currently in prison for the next 2 decade. So, it's our job to find a new prime minister. One of you will have to step up to the prime minister's position, with the consent of the Queen, and another will have to fill that previous position of whoever steps up. Do we have any volunteers?"
"I'll volunteer!" The military adviser Gordon suggested as he raised his hand.
"NO!" Anna along with other several councilmen shouted. Even General Albert glared at Gordon when he volunteered.
"I don't think so Gordon. You're lucky you're still in this job, considering your meeting before the trip to Solaris."
"That was an accident. I didn't know what I was saying." Gordon said defensively, though he knew it was a losing battle.
"No. You knew perfectly well what you were saying." Anna said through gritted teeth.
"Why? What did he say?" Elsa asked her sister. Anna just shook her head and said, "You don't need to know. It's resolved now."
"Anyone else wish to volunteer?" Albert asked.
"How about you?" Anna asked.
"Who?" Albert asked the princess.
"You Albert. There isn't any rule about the General being the Prime Minister as well, Is there?"
"Technically no." A councilman said.
"Yeah but..."
"And you had experience as a prime minister before right?" Anna asked. "I mean, you nearly did the deal in Solaris had the prime minister not messed up."
Albert sighed. "Yes, but I'm the General."
"And now you'll be the Prime minister." Anna said as she looked at her sister who nodded in approval.
"Oh god." Albert said.
"Don't worry. You'll be fine." Anna said as she gave a little smile.
"Thank you your majesty." Albert said. "Hopefully I won't mess up."
"You won't. I believe in you." Anna said confidently. Albert couldn't help but smile in response.
The meeting finished without a hitch. General Albert knew what he was doing as the Prime minister and Anna proved to be a worthy Queen. By the end of this 3 hour long meeting, everyone was exhausted but they had finally finished all of the negotiations and handling of the remaining dignitaries from the Royal ball disaster. Now all that was left was to see one more dignitary.
"Elsa. I've been looking for you." Nicholas called out from the courtyard as the sisters exited to go see this remaining dignitary.
"Oh hey Nicholas." Anna called out with a wave as the prince approached the two Queens.
"Hey Anna. What happened?" Nicholas asked noticing the sling on Anna's arm and a small bandage on Elsa's nose.
"Oh. I played a little prank on Elsa and it went kind of wrong for the both of us." Anna giggled.
"It went wrong for her more than me." Elsa said. "Anna. Here's your boyfriend." She said as she caught sight of Kristoff.
"Yay. Now my boyfriend is here and you have yours." Anna said with a grin as she saw Elsa and Nicholas turn different shades of red.
"Anna! What did you do this time? Please don't tell me you jumped down the chimney like you said you would." Kristoff said as he approached Anna and looked at her arm.
"She was supposed jump down the chimney?" Elsa asked in shock as she looked at Anna.
"No I didn't!" Anna said. "This was from a prank on Elsa that went wrong for the both of us."
"Uhuh. Elsa has a little cut and you have your arm in a sling. I think it went much more wrong for you than her." Kristoff stated.
"Probably. Anyway, we have to go and see a foreign dignitary. This is the last one from the ball. He said he would meet us by the prime minister's house. Prime minister Louis' house to be more exact." Anna said.
"Why there?" Nicholas asked.
"I don't know." Anna shrugged. "He said he was fearful of entering the town and castle."
"Well, tell him that if he wants to do business, he should come to the castle, otherwise we're not interested. He's the foreigner. He should be coming to us. Not us to him." Kristoff stated firmly.
"He's got a point." Nicholas agreed.
"Oh c'mon boys." Elsa said this time, startling the two. "It's only one dignitary. What's the worst that could happen?"
"You're seriously asking that after the events of the last 3 to 4 weeks? Are you that naïve?" Kristoff asked. Elsa just shot a glare.
"You two stop moaning!" Anna said at Elsa and Kristoff. "Now let's go. It's getting late."
"It's 3 in the afternoon." Nicholas said.
"Yeah. And I should be napping already." Anna said as she started to walk to the point of meeting.
"Are we there yet?" Kristoff and Nicholas asked in unison.
Both Elsa and Anna sighed at the same time. "Boys!"
It took another 15 minutes for the group of four to reach the home of Ex-prime minister Louis. The entire house had been boarded up and the gardens had now withered and died. The wind was blowing strongly as if in revenge for the death of the prime minister.
"So where is this dignitary?" Elsa asked her sister.
"I don't know." Anna said. "The guards said that he wanted to meet here."
"This is a bad idea. Something doesn't feel right!" Kristoff said as he started to look around as if searching for something. Nicholas also did the same thing as both the men stood closely to the sister's as if in a defensive formation. Kristoff was particularly concerned about the forest behind them. Anyone could simply jump out and ambush them before they even had a chance to react.
"Nicholas? I don't think that will be necessary." Elsa said with a weary eye as the prince pulled out a crossbow from satchel.
"You never know." He replied.
"I don't think that mini crossbow will do much damage." Kristoff said as he took note of the weapon in Nicholas' hand. It was barely half the size of a normal crossbow and was clearly made for stealth and short ranges.
"You'll be surprised what this can do." Nicholas said as he looked over the crossbow. "It's Solarian. This thing is armor piercing. It may be smaller, but this thing can penetrate even further than a normal crossbow."
"I'll believe it when I see it." Kristoff said. "Wait! What was that?"
They could here a light rustling coming from the bushes in front of them. Nicholas raised his crossbow in a defensive stance as Kristoff stood in between Elsa and Anna, ready to lunge at the intruder at first sight. Suddenly, a small figure emerged from the bushes wearing a cloak.
"Excuse me." The figure said. "I'm here to see the Queen."
"Okay. This is a very awkward place for a meeting. Would you mind removing your hood so we can see who you are." Anna said.
"I would prefer not to." The figure said as it pulled out some papers and handed it to the Queen. "Here you go."
"I will not accept looking at the papers until you reveal yourself!" Anna stated firmly. The figure just sighed but then gasped as he looked behind the Queen and Princess.
"Oh my!" The figure said. The sister's and the two royals looked around and saw nothing.
"What's so..." Anna was cut off as she turned around and saw who this dignitary was. He had finally removed the cloak and revealed himself. Anna gasped, as the other 3 stared with wide eyes. "YOU!" Anna hissed.
"Hello Anna. Elsa." The Duke of Weselton said. He was holding a large crossbow which was aimed straight at Elsa. "No Prince! I wouldn't do that!" He said noticing the crossbow that Nicholas was holding. "Put it down! Now! Or the Snow Queen gets it!"
Seeing that the Duke was serious, Nicholas complied as he put the crossbow down on the ground in front of him.
"Good choice prince." He sneered as he looked back towards the sisters.
"Why can't you just leave us alone!" Anna snapped as she gripped her sister's arm.
"Oh I can't do that. This Snow Queen," The Duke mad sure to emphasize those two words as to make the Queen wince, "Poses a threat to my plans. She can stop it, which is why I need to make sure she is dealt with before I can proceed with tracking down the auburn haired moron, Hans."
"You will never get away with this." Kristoff said as he balled his hands into fists.
"Oh shut the fuck up stable boy!" The Duke hissed. "You have no say in this! Unless you too want to die!"
Kristoff juts continued to glare at the Duke.
"Now, Let's make a deal. I am willing to let you three leave unscathed and alive. Just hand over the snow Queen, without a fight, and everything will be fine after that. I believe that the princess is already acting Queen, so it shouldn't be any different than it is now, minus your sister of course. But come on Anna. Why would you even want her as a sister. She froze your heart and nearly left you for dead. She kicked you out. She didn't stop you from getting hit by that arrow. Why would you still want her?" The Duke sneered as he stared at the two sister's. Anna was now getting dangerously angry.
"Because she is my sister! You wouldn't know because you're nothing but a homeless freak!" Anna growled as she glared daggers at the Duke. He just laughed in response.
"Sure Weselton may have kicked me out! But tell me something princess. Who is the one holding the crossbow at the moment. You have no say in this status quo! I'm holding all the cards. I can decide who lives, and who dies!" He said as he steadied the crossbow, aiming right at Elsa's chest. "Now! Enough bickering! Give me the bastard snow queen or else I'll kill every single one of you!"
"Fuck off!" Anna screamed causing the two prince's and Elsa to jump slightly at the princess's sudden change in language and formality.
"Ooh! Tough words coming from an immature sister of a freak!" The Duke said as he continued to smirk. "Oh well. I guess I have no choice!" The Duke cocked the crossbow and aimed it at the Queen.
Elsa just stood in shock.
"Goodbye...Snow Queen!" The Duke fired the arrow just as Anna gasped and tried to push her sister out of the way. But she was standing paralyzed, as if rooted to the spot in shock. Suddenly, out of the trees to the left of them, a figure jumped out at high speed.
"NOOOO!" It screamed as it lunged at the queen, smashing into her and forcing her to the ground just as the arrow made contact with flesh. The Duke was caught of guard by the sudden change in the situation. Both the Queen and the figure fell to the ground with a grunt as the Duke lunged for another arrow and loaded his crossbow. Without second thought, Nicholas jumped towards his mini crossbow, grabbed it and without hesitation, fired it straight at the Duke just as he was about to fire a second shot.
The duke's eyes widened in shock as the arrow made contact with his chest. The crossbow dropped from his hands as blood started to stream out of the duke's mouth. He stared at the princess as if in pity and said, barely audible.
"Don't let Hans use the Concordus...for humanities sake." Then he collapsed to the ground with a large thump, no longer breathing, no longer alive, his eyes staring blankly at the fjord, no life in them anymore.
The Duke of Weselton was finally dead.
Anna, Kristoff and Nicholas just stared in shock at the sight that had occurred in front of them. Anna caught sight of her sister and the other figure lying in a pool of blood.
"ELSA!" Anna screamed. This cannot be happening. Anna ran up to her sister who was soaked with blood. "Elsa!" Anna screamed again as she shook her sister who began to stir.
"What happened?" She asked. Anna just looked in shock at her sister. There was no wound or arrow in Elsa, meaning that the blood she was soaked in was not hers. "AAH!" Elsa finally screamed when she noticed she was drenched in blood. Nicholas and Kristoff quickly ran over fearing the worst, but looked in shock when Elsa stood up completely unharmed. Suddenly all 4 of them caught sight of the mysterious figure next to where Elsa laid. Anna gasped in when she saw the arrow sticking out of the chest of Elsa's savior. She quickly ran over and gasped when she saw who it was.
"Horell!?"
"Hey princess." The heavily wounded Security adviser said. "It's good to see you and your sister safe. Same can't be said for me though." He gave a light chuckle which turned into a wince as blood started coming from his mouth.
"Oh my god! Horell!" Elsa screamed in shock as she knelt down next to him. "We, we thought you were dead!"
"Someone get a doctor!" Anna screamed.
"NO!" Horell shouted a little loudly causing all 4 of them to jump. "That...that won't be necessary."
"Horell. You've got an arrow sticking out of you! You're going to die!" Anna said as she tried to stop the bleeding only to have her arm pushed away by him. "What?"
"I know I am going to die. And I'm welcoming it in open arms." He said as he shuddered with every breath. "After all the sins that I've done, I am actually happy to die. The world doesn't need a man like me!"
"What are you talking about?" Anna asked in confusion.
"I have done things that I should have been executed for." He said. "I...I killed the Prime minister, and for that I am deeply sorry. The Duke paid me large sums to kill him so that when he arrives, he would just have to handle you. It was my worst mistake ever."
"You killed Louis?" Elsa asked.
"Yes. I did not know that he had children. When I saw that little girls face..." He stopped as he let a tear drop. "I'm so sorry. I came back because no matter how much the Duke paid me...my loyalty will always be with my home kingdom, Arendelle. I am so sorry. I just hope you can forgive an old worthless man like me."
Anna just sighed. "What kind of person would I be if I didn't forgive. So you killed the prime minister?"
"Yes."
"Did you have anything to do with the spies that entered?" Anna asked.
"I am afraid so. I helped them infiltrate. But I was also the one who informed the guards of where they would be as they left, that's why we caught one of them." Horell said. His face was now turning pale. "But I had nothing to do with the ballroom accident."
Anna managed to piece all the pieces of the puzzle together as she realized what Horell meant. She then asked, "So why did you return? Why did you save Elsa?"
"The Duke originally offered me ten times as much to poison the Queen at night." Horell said. Anna's eyes opened wide as Elsa gasped. "I told him that I didn't want anything to do with hurting them. I only accepted the offer of the Prime minister. Nothing else. I should have just rejected that as well. I killed a father, and for that, it is my right to die as well."
"But you are a father as well..." Kristoff said shocking both the Queen and Princess.
"Huh?" Elsa asked in shock.
"Horell. You have a son that is 1 week old." Kristoff said. "You can't just leave them."
"No I can't. I will never leave them. But that doesn't mean I have to be alive to do that."
"Where did you get that logic?" Anna asked.
Horell just smiled. "I don't know."
"You still never answered me. Why did you save Elsa, if you were so willing to work for the Duke." Anna asked.
"I have betrayed Arendelle. I have betrayed all of you. The least I could do to make up for that is to die. To die for Arendelle. To die for the Queen. I couldn't allow the Duke to separate you two, not after everything you've been through together. You two were a worthy sacrifice." Horell said. He then pointed to the satchel that was hidden in his cloak. The princess picked it up. "That contains documents and plans that the Duke himself had. It also tells the location of his army. Give it to the king of Corona or Solaris. Tell them to search and destroy them."
"What else is in here?" Anna asked as she opened the satchel. She pulled out a small picture of Horell standing next to his pregnant wife. Anna gulped at the thought of having to tell another family that their relatives have died. But his child, the one born a week ago, wouldn't even know who his father was. She could feel tears begin to prick the corners of her eyes.
"Anna." Horell called out weakly as the princess looked at him. "Please make sure that my wife and child are safe. Her name is Elsa by the way." He said to the surprise of Elsa and Anna.
"We named her after you, our beloved Queen. I know I am a traitor, but please, don't blame my wife or my child for my actions." Horell said as he looked at the Queen, who too was beginning to tear up. "They had no idea what I was doing. I betrayed them as well. Even though I did this, I would like you to know, that I never had any intention of hurting you two ever."
"Do you know what to do?"
"Yes Duke." Horell said.
"Excellent." The Duke said. "My plan is going perfectly. Remember, my spies will arrive in circa one week. Let them in, do you understand?"
"Yes sir." Horell replied. "What happens after that?"
"Well, the Queen and princess will be drawn out of the kingdom by my plan, which will leave this kingdom vulnerable for my military to invade once I get my hand on this weapon."
"No harm is going to come to Elsa and Anna right?" Horell asked. The Duke frowned at the sudden change in subject.
"Why are you so concerned?" The Duke asked. "You know they will kill you if they find out what you did right?"
"I know, but even after all of this, they are still my Queen and Princess. My loyalty to them may have dwindled with me helping you, but my love for them as our rulers will never. Please tell me that no harm will come to them!" Horell said this quite sternly to the duke's shock.
"Yes. I swear that no harm will come to them." The Duke said. Horell wasn't convinced but he knew better than to start something that he couldn't finish.
"Right. And you will kill the prime minister?" The Duke asked.
"Yes. Are you sure that is the only way? Does everything you do always involve death?"
"Yes. As long as the prime minister lives, the council will stay strong. Without him and their stupid Queen and Princess, Arendelle will fall like a rock." The Duke said as he rubbed his hands together. "Finally complete something that, that incompetent moron Hans couldn't do."
"The Queen and Princess aren't stupid!" Horell said through gritted teeth.
The Duke frowned yet again. "You sure you can do this? You're not going to fail like Hans are you?"
"No. But only if you ensure the safety of the Queen and Princess."
"I swear on my life!" The Duke said.
"On your life? So be it..." Horell muttered knowing that the Duke was a good for nothing, lying bastard. "Your life it is..."
"Pardon?" The Duke asked unable to hear what Horell had just said.
"Nothing. Right, on with the plan then?"
"Yes. I'll be seeing you soon enough..." The Duke said as he disappeared into the forest. "Don't fuck up!"
"I won't." Horell said as the Duke disappeared into the forest. Once the Duke was out of earshot he said, "Long live the Queen!"
Keep my wife and child safe. Tell them the truth.
Those were the last words that Horell had spoken before he died. Neither Elsa nor Anna had ever wanted to watch another person die in front of them. Especially one that had just saved the Queen. Sure he was a traitor, but in the end, he was the one who saved Elsa, Arendelle, and foiled the duke's plan. The information inside Horell's satchel was sent to Corona and Solaris, who in a joint attack formation, wiped most of the Duke's army of the face of the Earth. The rest simply surrendered or fled. Though Corona and Solaris knew this was far from the end, what with Hans and the Concordus still missing and Lecter's taking of the Southern Isles causing instability in the south, this was at least a minor victory in the fight to prevent the destruction of Western civilization. With the newly found intelligence, the Coronian and Solarian empires at least had an idea of how Lecter would attack. But they still had no idea how Hans would attack if he was even alive, let alone what the Concordus would be capable of doing once Hans deciphered it.
For now though, Elsa and Anna could rest with the fact, that the Duke and his army no longer posed a threat. Now there was just one more thing left to do...
Knock, Knock, Knock...
"Coming!" A voice called from the other side of the door. "Yes?." The young female gasped when she saw who it was. "Y-Your majesty! Princess. I am so sorry. I didn't know it was you." She said as she curtsied.
"Formalities won't be necessary." Anna said. "May we come in."
"Of course." The young woman said. She could have been no older than 24. She had brown hair that she had hanging down straight. She was around the same height as Anna and her voice was soft and melodious. "Please take a seat." She said indicating to the sofa by the fire place.
"Thank you." Anna said as she sat down with her sister. Anna waved off two guards that were standing by the door.
"So, how may I help you, Uh, I'm sorry that I couldn't tidy this place up a bit before you came because I didn't know that you would be coming your majesties, if I did this place would be spotless. Then again, since my husband disappeared I haven't been so right, but I suppose he's alright, but then again, nobody has ever heard anything of him..." Noticing the Queen and Princess were staring at her she added, "I'm sorry. I kind of ramble when I'm nervous. Um, so how may I be of service to you, your majesty?"
"Please. Just call me Anna." Anna said. "There won't be any need for formalities here."
"Are you sure?" She asked.
"Positive. If I may ask a question, what is your name?" Elsa asked.
"Claire. Claire Beatrice Monroe. I'm related to Royal Beatrice family from six hundred years ago, but they're long gone." Claire said.
"Alright Claire. We're here because...because of your husband. Horell Monroe." Anna said. She saw Claire gasp and start smiling.
"Really. Oh that's great news! I've never been the same without him. Is he alright? When will he be home? I want to show him his daughter. We named him after you by the way. Little Elsa. She's so cute. Her hair is blonde, just like her father's, well not platinum blonde like yours, but he thought it would be cute to name her after you if that's alright your majesty. I'm sure he will be glad to see his baby girl. I'm rambling again aren't I?" Claire asked, her cheeks red with embarrassment. Anna just gave a small smile, yet behind that smile hid a lot of tears just waiting to be shed. Claire reminded her so much of her own self. Her rambling, her care free attitude. She was even quite young. Oh god. How am I going to get through this without crying, Anna thought.
"Do you want to see her?" Claire asked interrupting Anna' thoughts.
"Pardon?" Anna asked.
"Do you wish to see Little Elsa. She's so cute." Claire asked. Anna looked at her sister who shared the same teary eyed look.
"Alright." Anna said. She was so sure this was going to break her. She watched as Claire got up and walked into the room behind. Seconds later, she emerged with a little gurgling bundle in her arms.
"Coochy Coochy Coo." She said as she tickled the week old baby in her arms causing the bundle to giggle. Anna could already feel tears forming in her eyes. She looked around Elsa making sure that there was no ice forming. This young child was going to grow up without a father. Neither Little Elsa, nor Claire knew about Horell's death yet, and Anna was dreading the time she would have to tell them. "Here she is. Look Elsa, This is our beloved Queen and Princess, they're taking good care of Arendelle and it's people." Claire said as she handed the baby girl to the Princess.
Anna took hold of the little baby. She was so adorable. She had blonde hair that was similar to that of Kristoff's. The little girl's emerald green eyes looked into the princess's crystal blue eyes as Anna blinked back tears. How do you inform a mother and a little baby child that their father had just died in front of them, and they were powerless to stop it.
"So. What's the news about my husband? Is he alright? Please tell me he didn't leave because of us. I just hope he know we will love him no matter what." Claire said. This was the final straw for Anna. She began to cry as the baby girl's little hand touched her face. The little girl was even smiling, as if she knew Anna for years. Elsa was also teary eyed. This was worse than when they watched the grieving sister and mother of Jarge. At least Jarge didn't have a little girl or wife. Oh god. How was Anna going to do this?
"Well?" Claire asked with a smile.
"First, I would like to say that your husband Horell loves you. He loves you more than anything in the world. He loves your child just as much as well." Anna said as she fought back tears.
"Really? Then why doesn't he come home?" Claire asked with a smile that resembled that of Elsa's.
"Horell is a very brave man. He had all the qualities of a prince. Honor, dignity and Love." Anna added, not knowing how much longer she could hold back the waterfall of tears she had. She could see Claire's smile falter as she said this. Noticing that Anna was faltering, Elsa decided to step in and be the Queen she was...
"Claire. There is no easy way to tell you this...I'm really sorry." Elsa said as tears began to fall. She could see her sister stroking the babies head as she herself was crying. The innocent little bundle just continued to smile as if nothing was wrong. Elsa was so sure she would freeze the room in grief, yet her powers stayed at bay. "Claire...I'm so sorry. You're husband is dead."
Elsa winced at the fact that Hans had literally said the same thing to her during her coronation. She hated that she had to do this. She hated that she had to be the one to watch a mother cry in front of her. She hated herself for even being the one to break this news, to watch the smile on Claire's face vanish, to watch the 24 year old mother collapse onto the floor in grief and anguish at her husband being no more, at her baby never having a father, at the thought that she would never see her beloved husband again.
"I'm so sorry..." Elsa whispered as she finally let her tears fall. "His last words were that he loved you and wanted us to keep you safe."
"Please...tell me...How..." Claire said in between sobs, her head in her hands.
"He...He sacrificed himself to save me." Elsa said tearfully. Claire needed to know the truth. "The arrow hit the your husband instead of me. I never wanted any of this to happen. I never wanted to watch your husband die. I am so sorry." Elsa stood up and walked towards the crying mother. The mother stood up and looked at the Queen straight in the eyes. The Queen that her husband had died to save. Elsa was so sure that Claire was going to hit her, but Elsa didn't care if she did. She had just lost her husband. Having lost her parents and nearly her sister, Elsa knew what it felt to lose someone you love. What people would do in grief. How Elsa was even willing to accept death on her coronation at the thought of losing Anna. Claire raised her hand as if to slap the Queen whom her husband had died for, but instead she dropped it and flung herself onto Elsa crying. Elsa was initially shocked, but that shock wore off nearly immediately as she embraced the young girl.
Anna was staring tear-struck at her sister and Claire in each others embrace. Elsa tried her best to comfort the young mother as Anna continued to look at the little baby in her arms. The little baby gurgled as it touched Anna's face with its little fingers.
"Thank you..." Claire whispered into the Queen's ears.
"For what?"
"For telling me the truth personally. Most ruler's would just send a careless guard to tell them this news." She said as she continued to weep into Elsa's shoulder.
"I'm not like most Queen's." Elsa said causing Claire to give a little laugh as the two pulled away.
"Please tell me you got the man that killed my husband." Claire said as she wiped her tear stained face.
"We did. Don't worry, we did." Elsa said as Anna walked up to them holding the little baby.
"Thank you." Claire said. "My husband must have cared about you and your sister if he was willing to die for you two. Please don't make my husbands death be in vain your majesty. But please remember, that even though Arendelle may have people who may not like you, a majority of them would die defending their Queen and Princess. I know I would." She said as she began crying again. Elsa started tearing up again upon hearing those last words. She remembered when her sister had said the same thing to her at Reimarch's cove.
I am willing to die for you...
A phrase that can change the hearts of even the coldest people. Having someone that was not her family tell her that brought warmth and emotions into Elsa. She just hoped that no one else would have to do that. Many brave, young heroes have died in the last month for her and her sister. The grief that there families had was something that neither Elsa nor Anna could bare. This month had been the bloodiest, non-war month that Arendelle had since forever. In total, 68 people had died in total from the ball, the trip, and finally Horell. So many dead, and for what? The Duke's and Hans' scheme? To save the Queen and her sister? The Queen that nearly killed everyone in an Ice age? And people were still willing to give themselves to protect her and her sister. How would she ever repay them for something like this? No amount of riches can bring back the dead. No amount of power could make someone feel less lonely after losing their loved ones. Even love itself has it's limits! She was lucky that she still had Anna after her parents had died. Without the love and compassion of her sister, Elsa was sure she would have committed suicide a long time ago. Why bother living when everyone you love is dead?
"Elsa?"
"Huh?" Elsa said having been bought out of the trance she was in.
"Are you okay?" Anna asked.
"Yes. I'm fine" Elsa replied. She looked one last time at the mother and daughter in front of her, who were silently weeping by the fireplace. "Shall we go now?"
"I suppose." Anna said sadly as she looked at Claire. "Umm. Claire? We will be going now, if that's alright"
"Yes. Thank you for coming here." Claire said. "I'm grateful that you informed me personally."
As Elsa and Anna prepared to walk out of the house, Claire called out to Elsa.
"Your majesty?"
"Yes?" Elsa asked.
"Even though some people may call you cold, or heartless or the snow Queen...to me...you're the most caring, loving queen I've ever known. Trust me when I say that I am proud to have you as our Queen." Claire said as she wiped a tear.
"Thank you." Elsa said barely audible as she started saying again. "That...that means a lot to me. And I will ensure that Little Elsa grows up to learn how much of a hero her father was. He will never be forgotten"
"Thank you." Claire said with a smile as she curtsied.
"You're welcome." Elsa said as she exited the room, seeing Claire close the door as they left.
"I never want to do that ever again." Anna said.
1 Week later...
"I'm going to miss being acting Queen." Anna said as she watched her sister having her rulership signed back to her.
"Well, at least we know you would make a great Queen." Kristoff said as he put a hand on Anna's shoulder. "So? Do you wanna have some lunch?"
"Alright." Anna agreed. "But we'll bring my sister and her boyfriend."
"He's not my boyfriend!" Elsa said as she approached her sister.
"Lie all you want. We know the truth." Anna laughed. "Now let's go get some Lunch!"
It was already 12 noon by time the reached a small little cafe in the Arendelle town center.
"Remind me why we couldn't just have lunch in the castle?" Elsa asked.
"What's wrong with having it out here?" Anna replied. "It makes a change from being stuck in a stuffy castle. Besides, this was Kristoff's idea"
"I suppose. But I am not paying!" Elsa said.
Anna laughed in response. "Elsa. You're the Queen and I am the princess. We never pay!"
"That is cheating." Nicholas said. "In my kingdom, we have to pay, no matter whether we are nobles, or the king. We still have to pay. It prevents us from ransacking a store dry."
"Yeah but me and Elsa know our limits." Anna said as she sat down next to her sister, Kristoff sitting besides her and Nicholas in between Kristoff and Elsa.
"As if." Kristoff scoffed. "I fit involves chocolate I don't think so! Maybe that's why the chocolate storekeeper is always so frightened when he sees you or your sister approach."
"Hey!" Anna said with a frown.
"He'll probably have a heart attack if he sees them approaching together!" Nicholas joked causing Kristoff to laugh and the sisters to glare at the both of them.
"So what will we be having?" A waitress asked as she approached the table.
"I'll have the Chicken Sandwich." Nicholas said.
"And for me...the fish fillet. With the special." Kristoff said as he winked at the waitress. This went unnoticed by the sisters as they continued to look at the menu. Nicholas though, caught sight of it. He raised a brow at Kristoff and leaned over.
"What was that about?" He whispered.
Kristoff just smiled. "You'll see." Nicholas was even more confused than before.
"And her majesties?" The waitress asked.
"Oh, me and Elsa will have the salad." Anna piped up.
"With triple chocolate sauce..." Kristoff added.
"And marshmallows, White chocolate curls and fudge." Nicholas finished as the two men burst into laughter. They quickly stopped laughing when a snowball hit them in the face each.
"Hey!" The said in unison as they wiped the snow away to see a smirking Elsa and Anna.
"There's more where that came from boys." Elsa said with a smirk.
The two men just sighed. "Girls..."
"Excuse me?"
"Nothing!"
15 minutes later...
"Here you go you majesties." The waitress said as she put the plates of salad in front of the Queen and princess. "And your Chicken Sandwich..." She said as she put a plate in front of Nicholas. "Your order will be out in a second my Lord." She said to Kristoff.
"Ooh. I'm kind of liking being called that. My Lord. Sounds...royal." Kristoff said with a smirk. Anna rolled her eyes in response.
"Hold on girls! I've got something for you!" Nicholas said as he pulled out a small tub of chocolate causing Kristoff to burst into laughs as Nicholas giggled uncontrollably. They were immediately silenced when a pile of snow came crashing down on their heads. But they started laughing again when Elsa launched herself at them and pulled the tub out of their grasp.
"Thanks for dessert boys." She said as she gave the tub to Anna.
"Here you go sir. Your fish fillet and four special ice cream sundae's." The waitress said as she put the plate in front of Kristoff."
"One for you..." She said as she put a sundae in front of Kristoff.
"One for you..." She put one in front of Nicholas.
"Another for you..." She said as she put one in front of Elsa.
"And last but not least, A special sundae for you Princess. Enjoy!" She said as she put a sundae in front of Anna. "Will that be all my lord?"
"Yes. Thank you" Kristoff said as the waitress curtsied and left.
"Well, Let's dig in." Elsa said but stopped when she noticed her sister staring at the Sundae in shock. "Anna?"
Anna just continued to stared at the sundae, her mouth hanging open in shock. Written on the Sundae glass was:
Princess Anna. I love you more than anything in this world...
Your are the light that keeps me warm...
You are the force that keeps me strong...
So it would do me an honor to ask you this...
Will You Marry Me?
And on top of the sundae was a golden ring with a Sapphire, with the same color as her and her sister's eyes. She looked up in shock at Kristoff in shock, just as Elsa dropped her fork as she read the message, while Nicholas was looking at the three of them trying to figure out what the hell was going on.
"I love you more than anything Anna. I promise I will never stop loving you...ever...no matter what happens. So, Will you?" Kristoff asked as he watched Anna pick up the ring and smile.
"Yes." Anna said with tears in her eyes. "Definitely Yes!" She lunged at Kristoff and kissed him on the lips, with everyone around them watching with a smile on their face. The people in the cafe began to applaud, while her sister was sitting next to Nicholas wiping tears from her face.
"My little sister is finally growing up." Elsa said through teary eyes. "I'm so proud." And with that Elsa broke down in tears, but not tears of sadness, but for the first time in forever, tears of joy. Nicholas took this opportunity to wrap his arms around Elsa's shoulder. This did not go unnoticed by Elsa, who looked up and smiled at the prince. Without hesitation, she too, brought her lips to the prince's as the crown clapped even louder. Kristoff and Anna watched with smiles as Elsa and Nicholas pulled away with smiles on their faces.
"You planned this all along..." Anna teased as she sat down and put on the ring.
"Of course. I wanted it to be a public announcement. Not just one for the servants to see." Kristoff said.
"Oh My God!" One of the citizens screamed. "We are going to have a Royal Wedding!"
"AAAAH! I'M SO EXCITED!" Another yelled.
"I can see it now! Flowers in the streets, Snow in the air, Colors in the sky. It's going to be beautiful!" A guard screamed in a girly voice causing several other guards to start laughing.
"Bro! Are you queer?" One shouted as the guard glared at him. The others couldn't help but laugh.
"Oh Anna. I will make sure you have the most beautiful wedding ever. Anything you want, I will do!" Elsa said as she hugged her sister.
"Well for one, you could stop making it snow at the table." Anna giggled as she pointed up at the flurry that had appeared above them.
"Oops. Sorry." Elsa said as she made the flurry disappear.
"Well, this day turned out very well!" Nicholas said with a smile. "So what now?" He asked as he started eating.
"Well, i know what we are doing afterward." Anna said gesturing to herself and her sister.
"What?" Elsa asked.
"Do you wanna build a snowman?"
"I though you'd never ask!"
The four of them burst into laughter. Everything was alright now.
Everything was alright!
Happiness, Love, Tragedy, Suspense, Comedy, Fluff...I think i did well.
Well, we are very near the end of this story.
I really hope that you all liked this story and i am pleased to announce, because i just couldn't hold it in anymore (I had to let it go...yes i said it...), i am happy to announce that there WILL be a sequel. Because there is just too many things that this story will leave hanging. And if you thought that the switch between the two sisters was crazy for them...think again. Until then...enjoy.
Next...THE WEDDING **Squeals with joy**
What to do, what to do...Don't worry. I will not ruin the wedding with tragedy. I'm not that evil!
-TacticX