Chapter 4 - Meeting on the Docks
Anna took slow and nervous steps down the gangplank that connected the Boreas' deck with the wooden pier of Arendelle's harbor. Kristoff, Eugene, Rapunzel, and Lieutenant Nikolaus followed close behind her. In front of her, the head of Arandelle's ruling council, Prime Minister Tollak, stood with two of the castle's guards, waiting to greet her.
As Anna looked over towards the man, she found him particularly frightening at the moment. He was not an overly threatening looking person, fairly skinny and frail looking, but he was tall and always seemed to carry an aura of intimidation with him wherever he went. He was nothing but kind to her in the past, but as a kid, Anna was always slightly afraid of him. Even though it was probably un-justified, it seemed to carry on now that she was more-or-less an adult.
Prime Minister Tollak's position was one that was relatively new in the history of Arendelle. It was Anna and Elsa's parents, King Agdar and Queen Idun, who initially proposed the idea of creating a more active ruling council than what had been present in years previous. The council was made up of six members who were each elected by the people of Arendelle to be in charge of the various bodies necessary to keep the kingdom running smoothly. The King and Queen liked the idea of the people being able to more directly influence the decisions of their leaders through an elected representative process.
The prospect was met with scepticism at first, with many suggesting that it would take away the direct power of the royal family and make the monarchy nothing but a figure-head. It took time to come up with a balance that worked well, but everyone eventually grew to like it. The King and Queen would regularly have meetings with the council where they would make decisions based on the recommendations of the members. It kept them closer in touch with the people outside the castle's gates, especially after the incident leading up to their permanent closure.
In the three years following the death of the King and Queen, the council took a more active role in making decisions, allowing Elsa more time to adjust to the role she would have to take. When she was crowned, she began to take on more of the responsibilities, but she kept the council exactly as it was since it had worked so well for the past few decades.
The Queen still out-ruled the Prime Minister, and technically, being the Princess, Anna still out-ruled him too. Despite this, there had been occasions where the council could overrule the monarchy. It could only happen if they unanimously decided that a decision was being made that would cause harm to the Kingdom, or if the King or Queen was deemed un-fit. The most recent example of this being when the council agreed to let Hans imprison Elsa after bringing her back from the North Mountain nine months ago. It may have been a bad example, considering what almost came of it, but the regulation was based in reason. Even after the thaw, Elsa felt no need to alter that little rule.
Perhaps this was why Anna felt so nervous. She felt that the council would just ignore every one of her decisions and all team up to overrule her at every opportunity. It was a foolish notion, but her lack of confidence in recent days was beginning to bring her typically high spirits down.
As Anna neared the Prime Minister, he bowed slightly to greet her.
"Princess Anna, welcome back." He began, "When I saw the Boreas returning to port in its current state, I made my way to the docks as soon as I could."
"Thank you, Tollak." She replied, still felling just a bit intimidated by the taller man. "As you can see... we've been through a lot."
"Yes..." Said the Prime Minister. He was hesitant to ask the question foremost on his mind, but he felt it was prudent to do so anyway.
"Your Highness, if I may... where is Queen Elsa?"
And there it was. The question she knew was coming, requiring the answer she was dreaded having to give. Being forced to go over all of the details again was not a pleasant prospect. Anna figured the best way to say this would be to do so as quickly and efficiently as possible.
"She didn't make it." She told him. It was short and to the point, if not a bit vague.
"Didn't make it?" Tollak questioned. "You mean she's..."
"Dead, sir." Nikolaus spoke up, saving Anna from having to say the words. "She died... to protect us, and all of Arendelle. She, along with Captain Halvard, gave their lives to save us all."
Tollak was shocked. The guards beside him as well as all other men working on the pier stood in disbelief at what they had just heard.
"What?" Regaining his composure, Tollak spoke up again. "How!? what happened!?"
"The invitation of peace we got from the Southern Isles..." Anna began, feeling it was her responsibility to relay the information. No one Else's.
"The one we sent the Aksel out to give you?" He questioned rhetorically. "Yes."
"It was a trap." Anna answered. "King Rasmus only wanted to capture Elsa and steal her powers. Then use them and his navy to destroy Arendelle."
"My god..." The news was a shock to everyone present who wasn't already aware of it. Tollak barely knew what to say next, and Anna continued before he could respond.
"We managed to stop his ship, but... it came at a high price." Anna hung her head down as she concluded the explanation of recent events. It was some heavy stuff. She never thought anything could be worse than what had happened around Elsa's coronation nine months ago, but this... This was worse.
Tollak nodded slightly as he took everything in. It was a lot to process, but years of running the kingdom side by side with Agdar and Idun allowed him to start planning for the future immediately. Actions such as these usually led to war, and a war against the Southern Isles would likely be one Arendelle would lose. As he thought deeper about all of it, one particular oddity stuck out in his head.
"Your Highness," He asked, "If the Southern Isles attacked your ship, then why were you escorting one of their vessels into our harbor?"
"Prince Stefan and the crew of the Arcadia came to our rescue." Replied Anna. She figured that someone would question that fairly quickly.
"We likely would have all died if it were not for him." Kristoff added, walking up to stand beside Anna. "Not all of the Southern Isles is against us."
"That's right. Rasmus was a rouge of sorts... doing crazy things. The others don't support him anymore." Anna tried to be as confident as possible in her assurances to the Prime Minister. She didn't want him sending the Arcadia away when she promised that they would be welcomed in Arendelle. "His crew needs assistance too. Many of their men are wounded."
Tollak didn't like it, but if this Prince Stefan had really saved those aboard the Boreas, then perhaps he deserved at least a little gratitude.
"Very well, we will give them any repair supplies and medical attention they require." He turned to address one of the two guards standing beside him. "But I don't want any of them leaving the dock they are birthed in. They will not be permitted to wander our streets freely."
Anna didn't like the amendment to that command.
"But Tollak, they saved us!"
"And that is why I have not immediately sent them away." He responded quickly, preventing Anna from protesting further. "Regardless of their one honorable action, we must keep them under close watch until we can be sure they are trustworthy, Princess."
She cringed at the way he said 'princess'. She felt as though he was already demeaning her in a subtle way.
"Fine," The redhead sighed, "but I don't want them treated like enemies! I trust them already, so I want them given the respect they deserve."
"Of course, Your Highness. I have no intention of treating them disrespectfully, unless they give me reason to."
It wasn't exactly the blind obedience Anna was hoping for, but it would have to do. She was far too tired to banter with Tollak at the moment anyway.
By now, most of the crew of the Boreas had made it down the gangplank and were standing on the dock behind the royals. Prime Minister Tollak turned to face them all to give them a congratulations.
"You've all done an admirable service under difficult conditions." He began, pacing towards them slowly. "You'll be receiving Arendelle's highest commendation, and of course, a very long holiday if you so desire."
Contented mummers were heard through the crewmen. Many of them relished the idea of a nice long vacation after the hell they had just been through. Anna had planned to give them the same news herself, but unfortunately, Tollak had beat her to it. She felt a bit jealous that he had taken that chance from her. Pretty much everyone in the Kingdom already loved the Prime Minister from years prior, but Anna was just starting to get people to even notice her. It would have been a golden opportunity.
With Tollak's permission, Nikolaus dismissed the crew and they began to make their way along the pier towards the shore. Before many of them even made it past where Anna and Kristoff were standing, a well dressed man who Anna did not recognize strolled up the dock towards them. He stopped and gave a quick bow before turning his attention to Rapunzel and Eugene. Without giving any other introductions he broke into conversation right away.
"Unfortunately, I cannot let you run away to such a generous offer of down-time just yet, Prince Eugene." He looked at the Prince as he spoke, the tone implying that they were somewhat familiar with each other.
"And, you are?" Anna enquired. She was still very much in the dark about who this man was.
"Ah! Princess Anna, I presume." He looked at her this time and gave another bow. "I am Captain Eckhard, commanding the Coronan flagship The Solstice. A pleasure to make your acquaintance."
"Thank you." She replied.
"So what's this about me not getting a vacation?" Eugene questioned.
"Yes, My Lord. Unfortunately, I must ask for your presence aboard the Solstice for a few days." Eckhard responded, facing Eugene again. "We left Corona earlier than planned in order to come find you after you and the Princess did not return home on schedule."
"We figured that's probably why you were here." Rapunzel interjected. "But why do you need Eugene on the Solstice? We were planning on relaxing."
"Well, Your Highness, because we left port early, the ship was not... fully prepared. There are still a number of finishing touches that need to be dealt with before she is officially complete. Our hasty departure also meant that a younger, inexperienced crew was the only one available to man her. And being young, they are not always as... motivated as I would prefer."
Rapunzel and Eugene still didn't see where this was going.
"You see," He continued. "I was hoping the presence of their prince, a man closer to their own age whom most of them look up to, might be able to motivate them a bit more."
"Really? You think me just being on the ship will get them to work faster?" Said Eugene. "And why me? Why can't Rapunzel do it?"
"Hey!" Rapunzel exclaimed, nudging Eugene in the shoulder. "Don't put this on me!"
"Because in all honesty, My Lord, I need the men to be encouraged by the presence of their charismatic Prince, not distracted by the presence of their beautiful Princess." Eckhard seemed slightly embarrassed to have to ask this, and given the awkward nature of the request, it was understandable.
"Hmm, I'm a role model." Eugene chuckled. "They must not really know me at all."
Rapunzel gave a chuckle as well and looped her arm with her husband's.
"All right, I'll do it." He relented. "But give me a chance to at least clean myself up a bit. Maybe gat an hour or two of sleep?"
"Of course, Prince Eugene. Whenever you're available." Captain Eckhard bowed and headed back to the Solstice, leaving the royals standing alone with the Prime Minister and his one remaining guard.
"You know you're both welcomed to stay in the castle's guest suite again." Anna told the Coronan couple.
"Thank you." Rapunzel replied. "although most of our stuff was destroyed during the battle... we probably don't need nearly that much room anymore."
"Join the club." Anna said flatly. "Most of everyone's things were destroyed in that battle."
As if the thought suddenly hit Prime Minister Tollak hard in the chest, he jolted himself into the conversation once again.
"Oh! Your Highness! Speaking of personal belongings, we're the Queen's items kept safe?"
"Unfortunately, no. Her cabin was hit particularly hard. Almost all of Elsa's things we're not found at all." Answered Anna. She didn't know why that was such a big deal. She had hardly been worrying over Elsa's things when Elsa herself had been lost.
"Oh, Princess that is not good!" He continued. "As queen, your sister carried a number of important things with her. For example, the royal seal."
"Well, unfortunately, they're gone. They've either drifted across the water or sunk to the bottom of the North Sea by now." Kristoff Added.
"Did you look for them in the aftermath of the battle?" Tollak asked, urgently. Panic apparent in his voice. "Did you recover anything of value?"
Anna was starting to get agitated now. It seemed like Tollak was more concerned with some stupid seal and a few other stupid things than he was with the news that Elsa had died!
"We were a little preoccupied with searching the water for Elsa and Halvard to be concerned with some trinkets!" She spat, hoping her agitation got across without being too much of a brat.
"Your Highness, those trinkets are important for the future security of our kingdom." Tollak replied in a serious tone. "Imagine if another vessel were to find the royal seal washed up on shore somewhere. They could forge official documents and cause great damage to Arendelle's relations with neighboring lands. And that's only a mild example of what might happen if some of the Queen's belongings fell into the wrong hands."
Tollak turned to his guard again to give another order. It was imperative that swift action be taken in this regard.
"Go send for Captain Anton of the Aksel. Tell him to prepare for an important salvage operation. Get Lieutenant Nikolaus to provide the Captain with the position of the battle site so that they can track down any remaining debris."
"Yes, Prime Minister." The guard replied as he ran off to relay the orders to Captain Anton.
Tollak faced Anna again who had been wordlessly pouting after having been silenced by him like a child. His face relaxed as he addressed her once again.
"Princess Anna... you may not fully understand the importance of certain workings of the kingdom at this point, which is why I recommend you trust my judgment for the time being." He rested a hand on her shoulder in an attempt to console her. "Believe me when I say that I have no intention of attempting to usurp your authority, but rather I seek to work with you in this difficult time."
Anna didn't feel comforted by his act of familiarity with his hand on her shoulder. If anything, it made her feel even more like a kid who was being told off by an adult, but his words spoke to her a little more. She did need help, now more than ever, and Tollak had been through all of this before when he was helping Elsa through the duties of taking over a kingdom at a young age. His experience had to count for something, right?
"Thank you Tollak. I'm sorry, and I know you mean well." She told him as he took back his hand. He gave a small smile and a nod in return.
"Then I will let you all go and rest for the time being." He said to the four of them. "I will meet with the other members of the council and discuss the situation. Your Highness, Mr. Bjorgman, after the meeting I would like to see you both again to discuss more."
Kristoff and Anna both nodded. They were exhausted and wanted desperately to just go sleep in their bed for the rest of the day, but the need to get on with politics was an unfortunate necessity, and one that doesn't always allow for rest.
"Excellent." The Prime Minister replied. "Until then." He politely bowed and took his leave of them.
The two couples were at a loss for words. They hoped being back on dry land would provide a respite from the troubles they had been through, but it seemed they all still had business to deal with that couldn't wait for later. As the four of them walked slowly across the docks, through the town, across the causeway and into the castle, they did not utter a single sentence.
Words would come later. Right now, sleep was the priority, however brief that sleep would be.