Émeric wasn't recovering as quickly as Antimony would have liked. Though he was awake more often than not, he didn't quite have the energy to get out of bed, and any visit longer than a few minutes would exhaust him if it didn't send him into some sort of panic attack. Antimony went to visit him as often as she could, but the doctor wouldn't let her stay very long, so she only got a few minutes of conversation in each day. She tried to keep him updated on what was happening without mentioning the war – which would almost certainly make him panic – and she almost always left feeling more anxious than she had come in. He was pale and drawn, and though he tried to smile for her, most of the time his expression slipped into that distant gaze she had seen that day he had collapsed, and his answers became short and barely audible.
There were other reasons besides the doctor's concern for Émeric's help to keep Antimony out of the sickroom. Somehow word had got out about the Frankish war against Arendelle, and everyone was trying to put together some sort of response. The various ambassadors and dignitaries gathered at least once a day to report what they had managed to gather from their various sources, and bit by bit they were putting together a picture of how every other country was faring. They had been writing hurried correspondence to their respective kings and queens, and Antimony had been in touch with Morten more often than usual.
After his threat to Arendelle, their letters had been simple and filled with little more than courtesy. Antimony learned that Morten was courting a young woman, and she told him some of the gossip from the court, but she doubted he was any more interested in her work than she was in his romance. As soon as she had mentioned the war, however, she had received a short note written in a scrawl that was her brother's script but still very different from his usual, composed handwriting.
Antimony,
Dear God, please tell me you're all right. If any of Mireille's army harms you in any way, I'll send all my forces to her and level the Frankish cities to the ground. You will be avenged, my beloved sister, if it beggars me to do it.
Morten
A day later, she received a longer letter that was calmer and contained an apology for what he termed his "outburst". He had offered Elsa whatever military aid she required and had even suggested that he start a land war against Mireille to distract her somewhat and force her to spread her forces. Apparently he wasn't the only monarch to do so, and Elsa told Antimony that she was considering setting up a multinational force to defeat the Frankish army and navy. Antimony shared this news with the other ambassadors, but she told them to keep it as secret as possible so no one would know that she was the one who had let out the news.
She felt somewhat worried about betraying Elsa's trust like that, especially when the things she shared where whispered to her in the middle of the night, during what stood for their trysts now, but she couldn't keep any information back from her fellow conspirators. After all, she told Elsa everything she heard from them, and it was only fair that the information went both ways. Besides, she only shared political news, which they would likely have found out anyway.
The ambassadors met more frequently now, whispering to each other about their wishes for the future and what they wanted to happen. Most of them just wanted the war to end so everything could go back to the way it had been, but others shared news of political instabilities in their own kingdoms and fears that they might also be called back.
"It's just worrisome," Arvel Lemair said one afternoon as they sat by a frozen pond. It was bitterly cold outside, but none of them seemed to notice. Antimony's fire could keep her warm, and apparently the rest of them were too nervous about the war and everything else to care about a little frostbite. "I'm like you, Antimony, only I'm third born. My older brother died from a plague, and my sister's taken the throne, and she thinks it's too dangerous for me out here." He shivered and glanced down at the little circle he had drawn around him – some superstition, people said – and said, "I can't leave now. The work we do here is too important."
Everyone nodded, but apparently Arvel hadn't finished, for he spoke on. This was enough to keep everyone else silent, as the fragile-looking, slender young man wasn't one to speak often, and when he did speak, it was brief and to the point. Now, though, his voice was drifting, and for a moment Antimony thought that if he were called back, he might collapse just as Émeric had.
"I'm a tie between Queen Elsa and my sister," he said. "My land and Arendelle have never been terribly close, though they were never enemies either, and if they both want help, then they need a closer tie. I'm the best for that."
"Why would your sister want help from Queen Elsa?" Anaïs asked.
"There have been droughts," Arvel said. "Some say there have been demons, but I'm not sure I believe them. If Queen Elsa could make ice and ship it to us somehow, she could save hundreds of lives." Antimony saw dark shadows under his eyes, and he was trembling. "We're too far south for winter to help, and this past summer was brutal. I've wanted to ask her help, but everyone seems so busy that I've never known the best time."
This was the Arvel Antimony was used to, and she reached forward to set her hand on his gloved on. He didn't flinch at her touch; his superstition about the circle said it would keep any demon from entering, and if she could pass over his circle, then she could be no demon. "I'll help you," she said, and even though Arvel was at least five years older than she was, she felt the older and stronger. "I won't speak to Elsa for you, but I'll bring you to her and stand beside you when you speak your peace."
"And if she has no time for me?" Arvel asked.
"She knows the risks of going to war with the Frankish queen," Antimony said. "She'll need allies, and if you can work out a treaty between her and your sister, then she'll likely thank you."
Arvel stared at her as though she had come down from the stars to talk to him. "But neither Queen Elsa nor my sister has initiated this. Why would they agree to just do something because I recommended it?"
"That's what lying's for," Antimony said, getting to her feet. "Tell Elsa that your sister came up with the idea, and that you'll write to her about Elsa's response. If Elsa agrees, then you can tell your sister that it was Elsa's idea." Arvel still looked confused, but she held out her hand and said, "It will make sense once it starts to work. I promise."
Antimony expected him to be hesitant, but instead he took her hand and stepped out of the circle. "I trust you," he said, and she led him into the castle in search of Elsa.
They found her in her room, huddled over a cup of mint tea and looking weary. She did smile when she saw them and invited them in, but afterward she said nothing, waiting for them to make the first word. Arvel looked more nervous than before, and Antimony half expected him to ask forgiveness for disturbing her and leave, but instead he cleared his throat and approached her. Kneeling, he said, "Your Grace, my sister sends her regards."
"Has she sent anything else?" Elsa asked, and Antimony thought she might well send Arvel away if the news wasn't to her liking. The war hadn't been going on for very long, and she had received a great deal of help from her allies, but it never seemed to be enough. Doubt had crept into the castle, even into the country, and Antimony had begun hearing whispers that Mireille would destroy them all.
Arvel apparently also thought he might be sent away, and he lifted his head to meet Elsa's gaze. "She has also told me that she would like to set up a trade between our nations. My land has been suffering from severe droughts. If you would be willing to send some ice to my sister, she would send aid to you." His voice was calm and even, and if Antimony had dared, she would have smiled to show how proud she was. Instead, she simply nodded slightly, not knowing whether he would see her. His entire focus was on Elsa, and all her focus was on him.
Elsa had set aside her tea, and though she still looked cautious, her eyes had lit up. "It will be difficult for me to get the ice to them if I take conventional shipping routes," she said. "Would your sister be willing to give my ships some protection?"
"I could ask," Arvel said eagerly. "I was planning to write a letter to her this afternoon."
"I'm sure there are others who would be willing to help," Antimony said. "My brother would allow some of his ships to escort yours." She tried to catch Arvel's eye and give him a silent warning not to promise too much, but she wasn't sure if he caught the message, and when his attention turned back to Elsa, Antimony pressed her fingers tightly together behind her back.
"I'd be very grateful for that," Elsa said with a smile. She looked far more relaxed now, and had even settled back in her chair, looking comfortable. "Send that letter to your sister as soon as you can, Arvel," she said to the kneeling man. "I'll do what I can to help her, even if she can do nothing for me in return." She dismissed the two of them with a wave of her hand, and Antimony set a hand on Arvel's arm as they left.
"That went far better than I expected," Arvel said as they left. His shoulders had slumped with relief, and though his steps were strong, he looked as though he wanted nothing more than to drop into a chair and close his eyes.
"I told you she would listen," Antimony said. "You did well in there."
"I wasn't sure if she would believe me." Arvel laughed nervously. "My hands are still shaking. I'm amazed I didn't just start babbling."
"Perhaps you were meant to be an ambassador after all," Antimony said. "Would you like me to tell the others what happened?"
"Please," Arvel said. "I'll have to write my sister and send the letter out at once, before Elsa can ask to take a look at it." They were about to part ways when he set a hand on her shoulder and said, "I don't know whether my sister will send ships to help Elsa. Would you write your brother and make sure he'd be willing to help?"
"He will," Antimony said. "I'll write him anyway, though."
"Thank you." Arvel smiled, and it was easily the brightest smile Antimony had seen on his face. He then turned to head up a flight of stairs to his room, and she went down a different flight to the garden. She was sure her brother would help, especially if his newfound fondness for her proved to be more than just in passing because of her absence. If that was the case, then she did have some power from her position. He wouldn't easily forget what she had said on the dock.
