Anna never felt so hopeless in all her life. Not even the helplessness she felt during the years of separation from her sister could compare to what she was feeling now. Her sister was gone. And unlike the last time Isten tried to attack her family, there was no Hiram to help rescue Arendelle.

It was just them, a small group of non-wielders, plus two children whose powers were still developing, against the vast power of the Mind Lord. There was no way for them to get word to their allies in time. Even the Derelict's pigeons wouldn't be fast enough.

They considered sending either Shako or Nadine away to safety, but that was quickly ruled out by Simar and Grum. Even if they went together it was almost certain that they would be captured by one of Isten's more experienced Wielders.

Usually, whenever a meeting was held, Anna would be attentive to the deliberations. Since part of the duties she took on soon after the coronation was helping with correspondence and forming treaties, it was important for her to be present. It took a few months, but she learned to quell her boundless energy enough to fulfill her new duties.

Now she couldn't stop herself from staring out the window as the sun slowly began to share its light with their part of the world. Seated at the long table in the council chamber, the leaders of both Arendelle and the Derelict debated on the best course of action they should take. Even in her distracted state, she noticed the Derelict leaders were strangely silent for the most part.

By now the debate had turned to when and how the evacuation would occur.

"I believe that immediate evacuation is in order," Captain Jokkon argued. "We stand a better chance of prolonged resistance if the town is empty. We'll be able to reorganize whoever is left and with the help of the Derelict it should be little problem at all."

Anna tuned out Kai's reply. She didn't want to run - Arendelle was her home. Where would they go? Who would take them in? Would they live in the more mountainous regions like the ice harvesters? She knew that many of the refugees would be unable to cope with the extreme change in circumstances. But was running the only option?

"You seem to be very quiet today," Captain Jokken said to the Derelict leaders. Anna snapped out of her musing to listen to what they would say.

"I believe it is because they already made a decision," the Bishop said.

Tor nodded. "We have."

"What are you going to do?" Anna asked.

Tor and Simar looked at Grum. "We are staying." The ex-guard's simple statement weighed heavily in the air.

Captain Jokkon looked at him with a piercing stare. "Why?"

"We have been on the run for years," Tor said. "Outside of being slaves of Isten, it's the only life we know. We never had a real home until Hiram and Queen Elsa signed the treaty. Even though it's a temporary arrangement, we didn't have to hide and pretend to be like everyone else. We were accepted for who we are. We will not run again."

"It'll mean captivity if you stay," the Bishop pointed out.

"We know," Simar said sadly.

That was all Anna needed to hear. "I suppose that decides it then."

"What!" the captain exclaimed. "Princess, I strongly protest! You have to stay safe. If we can get you to Corona, then there is a chance to gather support to fight back."

"Support from who?" Anna said hotly. Weariness from not being able to sleep last night was making her irritable. "The only help our allies can give us is either sanctuary, which would do no good against the most powerful man in Europe, or assemble an army that would crumble against the power of four wielders." Anna took a few calming breaths. "I don't like bringing up what happened in the past, but Elsa froze Arendelle and we would've had a severe drought four months ago if it weren't for Hiram. If we stay, he conquers us. If we run, we will only drag others into the fight."

The captain still looked doubtful. "Princess Anna, I don't th-" he was interrupted when the door burst open and a panicked guard entered.

"Your Highness," he said breathlessly. "There is a ship approaching. It's flying the same colors as the ones that tried to capture the queen before," he skin seemed to pale slightly. "There is a fire dragon on it."

"Get the castle on high alert!" Captain Jokkon and Grum said at the same time. They looked at each other for a moment. Anna thought for sure she saw some unspoken agreement pass between them.

Grum looked back at the guard. "Call the lieutenants, soldier. We must be ready for the siege."

The guard's face turned completely white. "S-siege, sir?" he stuttered.

"Confound it, man!" Grum snapped. "Every second you delay could spell disaster for Arendelle. Now step to it!" The guard came out of his stupor and gave the captain a questioning glance. At his nod, the guard rushed out of the council chamber like his very life depended on it.

"How are we going to fight all those wielders?" Captain Jokkon asked.

"Simple," Anna said. "We use wielders of our own."

"Come out children," Simar called. One of the council room's back doors opened and Shako and Nadine walked in.

"We're sorry," Nadine apologized.

"We just wanted to listen," Shako said.

Kai shook his head with a small smile. "Normally I would be upset," he stood up and walked to the main entrance. "But the queen and princess also had a knack for listening in on important meetings when they were little."

What? Anna thought. "I don't think we did anything…" she trailed off as a memory, old and almost forgotten, came to her. She and Elsa were on the other side of that same door spying on the conversation between her father and some diplomat she couldn't remember. As soon as the meeting ended, their father was somehow able to discover their hiding place. She remembered him being a little disappointed but there was no punishment, only a warning that they were not to do it again.

"Yeah, we did," she admitted.

Kai smiled. "I will see to it that we have as much in the way of supplies as possible and have the civilians quartered in the castle." Anna nodded and he left.

"So how can we help?" Shako asked.

Anna looked down at little Nadine. "I just need you to be ready to fight when they come for us."

-}=-|-={-

The servant was on the verge of hyperventilating. Never in his life could he remember doing something as dangerous and foolish as betraying his master. The dark hallways of the sparsely populated fortress complex no longer seemed safe or as much like a home as his enslaved mind previously thought.

With the Mind Lord so preoccupied and fearful of his uncertain future, his hold on the loyal servant began to slip. Little by little, the long dormant mind began to awaken. First it was concern for the wellbeing of the master, then it evolved into doubt concerning the master's actions against the rebel wielder. Was this man right to force loyalty from a boy who should be allowed to decide his own future? For that matter, was it right for Isten to bring about the extinction of a branch of humanity that, despite some mistakes, had always striven to protect their powerless brothers and sisters?

These questions followed him like the plague to the vault room, deafening in their repetition. They swirled around in his mind as he picked up a sound vault and an ice vault. The part of his mind still loyal to the Mind Lord screamed at his betrayal.

But there was another, stronger part that remembered he used to be a free man with a family. He could no longer their names or what they looked like, yet he could still feel the love they had for each other. That part of him was furious at being chained up. He knew he would never see his family again and that stirred the dead coals of his mind to life. The captive wielders still had family and he would to all he could to help them make it back home.

He pulled a set of keys he stole out of his pocket and inserted one into the lock leading to the rooms where the Mind Lord's prisoners were kept. He knew that rescuing them was the right thing to do. With Isten gone to Arendelle, it should be relatively easy for them to escape.

The grey mist started to cloud his thoughts again, but he quickly pushed it into the background as he opened the door.

Soon things will be set right. He had hope.