August 3rd, 1840
Royal Palace, Arendal
"Wait, so Anna killed the Draugr… with a dagger?" Elsa asked incredulously. She was back in her personal office, being checked up by Gerda as the Guards searched every crook and cranny of their home for any other threats. As for Anna, she was separated for security purposes, so she couldn't simply ask her personally.
"Of course, your Majesty. Knowing your sister, are you really surprised she took it head on?"
Elsa winced as Gerda wiped a wet cloth over one of her minor wounds, before answering. "No, not really. But to face that thing alone and survive, I thought it was impossible."
Gerda smiled. "They said finding you alone was impossible, and she did it in less than three days. You should know by now that Anna doesn't know the definition of the word impossible."
Elsa's face smiled for a moment, before twisting into a frown. She knew that Anna barely got through this fight alive, and she needed to be ready for the next one. She had already called for her commanders, and would rehash her strategy on how to best defend Arendal. But still…
She looked at her hands, now utterly without power. She needed a way to change that.
…
North Mountain Region, Arendal
Ásta and her army were marching south when the fell wind blew towards them, carrying a message that only the Draugr amongst them could hear. Impressive and fearful though they were, the Einhenjar were but possessed corpses compared to the mystical power that was Ásta.
Closing her eyes and sighing, however were much easier cues to pick up on, at least for the shield maiden Linda.
"Is there something wrong, my Queen?" She asked, speaking oddly as the few words she had spoken today hardly made up for the thousand years of un-use and ice damage.
"It's nothing. It's just that my thrall had just been killed, by Princess Anna no less."
"Princess Anna?"
"The Queen's younger sister. No powers, but brave. Very brave."
Linda laughed, causing Ásta to turn and raise a concealed eyebrow in inquiry.
"What's funny, Linda?"
"The gods can be humorous, my liege. After all, you surely must see the irony-"
"You call it Irony; I call it tragedy. Either way, I am very well aware of it, and have planned against it."
"Are your plans not in ruin, though? With your Draugr thrall dead-"
Ásta gave a short, cold laugh. "Him? He was never going to be the one to kill Princess Anna. I simply needed his men. As for him, I needed to test the mettle of Elsa and Anna, see what I am dealing with. And I am now satisfied with the results."
Linda paused, before quietly and replying with a tone that almost made it an accusation. "…You sent him on a suicide mission?"
Ásta paused, before replying defensively. "He was never one of us, Linda. He was a murderer, and a bandit. He was closer to a wild dog than a man of honor. And besides, I kept my word: He wanted his freedom, and I gave it to him. His soul is now free to face the judgement of the gods."
…
Royal Arsenal, Arendal
Donohue sat uneasy, finding himself once again wearing the woolen uniform of a Monarchy. While he certainly preferred the nearly Kelly green over the red he wore in the past, it still gave him a bad feeling. He and the others had been assembled, clothed and kitted up in the afternoon, entering their names on the rolls as they did so. Having done so, they began the oldest and most cherished of military pastimes: waiting for things to happen.
It was nearly sunset when another officer arrived, and judging by his blue uniform and plaid kilt, he was a highlander one at that. Briskly moving to Donohue, before asking quickly and bluntly "Are you Patrick Donohue?"
"Aye, I am, sir" Donohue found it odd and discomforting to once again be forced to be respectful to officers, even if they had done nothing to earn it. Another reason he couldn't wait for his thirty-day contract to expire…
"Good. I was hoping to find you here, even told the processing officer to separate you if you enlisted. Long story short Laddie, I intend to commission you as my Executive Officer for this Battalion."
Donohue's face twisted with shock, before stammering out a response. "Sir… with all due respect, are you mad? I can barely read and right, and I'm hardly a gentleman!"
"Christ paddie, knock it off with the sir shite. You and I both know this is a cluster fuck of a unit, throwing Irish and Scots together and expecting them to perform like a well drilled Battalion. It's not, so I won't pretend it is. So I need a man with experience and respect to hold the Irish together in the coming days. That's you."
Shaking his head, though a little happy that class and etiquette was not longer required, Donohue replied. "What the fuck makes you think I'm your man, anyways? Irishmen are unruly to anyone, even our own after all."
"You were elected to stand up for these men to the Crown Princess, so I know they respect you. And you've served before. Don't deny, you hold yourself like a veteran. I need that. I need a man to pick Sergeants, and I need a man to train these men in the few days we have before we are likely committed to battle. And I need a man I can work with, and can trust."
Donohue scoffed at the words Mackenzie spoke, before the Captain took note and hammered his point home. "That, right there. That's what I need. You don't bullshit, Donohue. If what I've heard of you is true, you're brutally honest. And as I need to know what your people are capable of and what their spirits are, I need honesty."
Donohue sighed, as the protestant bastard of a highlander had a point. He wanted to ensure he and his fellows made it through this backwater's civil war alive, and he got a similar vibe from the Scotsman as well. And if they both were on the same page, it'd be easiest for him to ensure it stayed that way by taking on an Officer's rank. "I'll do it."
"Good beans. Now assemble your fellows, and prepare them to move. We're being garrisoned by the Embassy."
…
Royal Palace, Arendal
Anna's eyes shot open from a dreamless, deep sleep seemingly moments after she had shut them, finding the room's lighting dramatically different than she had left it. Rubbing her eyes, she glanced over at the clock, surprised to find it after sundown. Looking about for her guard, she found Sergeant Raewald standing in a relaxed but alert manner, marking time.
Irate, Anna raised her voice in an inquisitive tone. "It's nighttime already! Are we still on lockdown?"
The old soldier smiled, before responding. "No, your Highness. That ended hours ago."
"What the shit, Raewald? I told you to wake me as soon as it ended, so I could meet up with Elsa!"
"Sorry, your Highness, but Queen's orders were to let you rest. Besides, no soldier should be denied sleep after their first battle."
"Why?"
"Well, you just experienced that first-hand. When you get your dander up, it gives you an edge. But afterwards, many find themselves so tired they'll find anywhere to rack out. Hell, even with years in the Guard, after my first line battle at Ligny under your father I would have slept for a week was it not for the fact the French Army was chasing us down!"
Still a little foggy and never a great student of history, Anna took a moment to think before clarifying. "That was right before Waterloo, right?"
"Yes, your Highness, the 16th of June. Waterloo was of course on the 18th. After Ligny we marched almost nonstop to Wavre, and after that, almost straight to Waterloo. It was only after there that we got anything resembling sleep, and even that was cut short to chase the French back to Paris! One thing I will never figure out is which of the two is more exhausting, a retreat or an advance…" The old Guardsman caught himself, before changing the subject. "But you've heard enough of this old soldier's stories, your Highness. While I'm afraid to report that the Queen has retired for the evening, I am sure that she would be more than tolerant to see you at this time."
Anna thought for a moment, before deciding against it. She was still exhausted, and she figured Elsa was likely feeling the same. She would see her tomorrow. "No, Sergeant. Simply send her my apologies."
"Of course, your Highness."
As the Sergeant turned to leave, a thought struck Anna, causing her to catch the Guard's attention. "Before you go… are the cooks awake?"
Raewald smiled. "I will be sure to check, your Highness."
…
While Anna waited for the cooks to whip up a pre-midnight snack, Elsa was on another night-time excursion, though one of an entirely different sort.
After the attack and following clean sweep of the Castle, she was shortly thereafter bombarded with the bad news of the ongoing civil war that threatened Arendal itself. As expected, the people, when given a choice between life or death, rallied to the colors. But old men and young boys, (untrained ones at that) were hardly a reliable bastion against the coming storm. And while she had reports that the enemy was like-wise put boys in uniform and arming grandfathers, they had vastly more troops at their disposal. In a nutshell, she needed an edge to save herself, the city, and most importantly, Anna.
Thusly, she found herself outside the old bedroom that was being used to house Grand Pabbie, relieved to find the lights on. While she had attempted to sleep on the decision she was about to make, anxiety denied her any sleep, even after the exhausting day she just went through. Besides, late as it was, she could no longer afford to wait.
Taking a deep breath, she paused, before knocking on the door. A brief moment paused, before she heard the old troll respond in a kind, but grave voice. "Come in, your Majesty."
Brushing off the fact that the troll had known who she was without speaking or showing herself, Elsa entered the room, finding the troll busy at work with what Elsa could only guess to be troll magic, based on the scattered potions, books, and crystals.
Awkwardly standing a moment, Elsa decided to cut straight to the point. "Grand Pabbie, I need your help."
Cocking an eyebrow, Grand Pabbie inquired. "How so, my child?"
"I… I need my magic back. Now."
"I told you, your Majesty, the best way is to simply wait and-"
"Yes, but that'd take days, maybe a week or two. We do not have that long. I don't need the best way; I need the fastest way."
Grand Pabbie shook his head. "Queen Elsa, it isn't our way to engage in such practices. Our people left behind such unstable and dark magic countless years ago, at least those in the Valley of the Living Rock have."
"Then show me another way, Grand Pabbie. I need that power, now!" Elsa commanded sternly, her anger beginning to swell. She had been told of the trolls having great powers before, and her research did not dismiss the stories.
Grand Pabbie paused, a little irritated that a monarch of Arendal was demanding more of the supernatural world that one should. But the old spell caster could read Elsa's heart like a book, and knew the noble intentions inside.
Sighing, Grand Pabbie shook his head before speaking. "I may be able to help you, your Majesty. But, it is no trivial matter."
…
Bit of Notes-
Many, Many Apologies for the 3 months without an update. Shortly after the last update, Life kinda got a little hectic, between Legend of Zelda BoTW, Several Cons, catching up on Anime, Cosplay, SAO Abridged and just a boatload of hectic things. This combined with a stretch of demotivation led to the current predicament.
I wish I could say that I'm back and raring to go, but, I don't know. I'm not abandoning this story by any means, but I can't promise bi-monthly updates either. It'll get done when it gets done.
See y'all next time,
O7,
Dragunov
