When Erick went out onto the balcony, he took a deep breath and felt the cold air into his lungs; but the sensation that his head was burning hadn t disappeared. He leaned on the rail and tried to calm himself down. The balcony was dimly illuminated by the moonlight.

"Are you all right?" A voice said in the dark.

Erick turned and found Vladimiras standing in front of the balcony door. Both men gazed at each other in silence, they could see their breath in the cold air of the night. "The night is pretty cold. It's strange for the summer." Vladimiras finally said looking at the moon which was clearly visible in the cold air.

Erick nodded while he looked at him in surprise. "We are used to meeting in cold places, but what are you doing here?" The young hussar finally asked.

"When I left the Council chamber, I saw you talking with Ladislas and followed you because you had a strange look in your eyes. Honestly, I thought you were about to kill somebody."

"It would be useless. There are too many in line." Erick muttered to himself.

"What are you talking about?" Vladimiras asked.

"You were supposed to be the candidate who was to be married to Queen Elsa. What happened?" Erick asked ignoring Vladimiras question.

"This very afternoon, just before the conference, I withdrew my claim for Queen Elsa's hand." The Lithuanian answered.

"Did you decide that she wasn't the appropriate Queen for Lithuania?" Erick asked in surprise.

"Quite the contrary! Although her coronation as Queen of Lithuania had some potential dangers." Vladimiras replied remembering Antanas attraction for the young Queen. "It's funny. History repeats itself. But although I really didn't want to repeat past events, my decision was motivated by news from Lithuania."

"Why do you..." Erick began to ask, but then he remembered their encounter in the corridor and the presence of Aras and his face lit up. ' Your father is dead. That's why Aras left Lithuania and came to Arendelle. He is the Seneschal of Lithuania and he must always be with the Lithuanian King. Am I correct King Vladimiras?"

Vladimiras nodded. "He arrived yesterday evening from Lithuania with the news." Vladimiras said, a hint of sadness laced his voice.

"I'm sorry." Erick replied.

Vladimiras shook his head. "My father and I quarreled since I was young. First we fought to influence my elder brother, the future King of Lithuania, about the correct way to handle the country. I wanted to make changes and my father opposed. He never understood that I usually managed to convince my brother. After my brother died things got worse."

"Because you began to make changes in your country?" Erick asked.

Vladimiras shook his head. "Not only that. Grave things happened between my brother and me during the war in the Plains. My father had good reasons to hate me due to my brother's death."

"As far as I know, your brother put himself and his escort in a dangerous situation and Hadik, the colonel of my regiment, took advantage of it."

"That's right." Vladimiras replied. "But I was my brother's right hand in military issues. He wasn't a gifted military leader. Usually he trusted my advice, but that day he ignored me."

"That wasn't your fault."

"He also had good reasons to distrust me." Vladimiras said. The Lithuanian stared into space as if he was seeing people and events long time forgotten. He shook his head. "All this is water under the bridge. My brother and my father are dead and nothing could change that, nor what happened while they were alive."

"And you decided to rescind your claim." Erick said guessing that Vladimiras didn't want to talk about that anymore.

Vladimiras nodded. "With my father's dead, the possibility of an open confrontation of the conservative faction, which he would have led, going against my reforms and my position as heir disappear and I can decide about my marriage."

"This decision will get you into trouble. You re the one who told me to be sensible a few days ago!"

Vladimiras smiled at the joke. " I would have agreed to marry against my will to avoid a civil war in Lithuania, but not to please Lord Halkett."

"What has Lord Halkett's reaction been?"

"As you can guess not very friendly. The treaty between Lithuania and England is very important and both countries are very interested, so it will be signed anyway but it won't be easy. I explained to him that I have my own plans for the future of Lithuania and they aren't compatible with a foreign marriage. Although I do recognize after seeing the Queen's maneuvers during the conference, I'm sure that she would have been an outstanding Queen for Lithuania."

"Why did you say that her plan failed?"

"Her plan didn't fail. She accepted voluntarily to be married to any candidate in exchange for allowing her younger sister to marry with whoever she wants."

Vladimiras explained in detail Elsa's maneuvers to Erick. It took some time, but when the Lithuanian finished his explanation, the hussar couldn't help humorlessly laughing. He now understood Elsa's words on the balcony.

"I should have guessed it. When she plays chess, Elsa always risks the Queen. And I suppose that Ladislas, who is a very skilled diplomat, took advantage of the fact, that after your withdrawal, the Englishman didn't have any valid candidate for Queen Elsa's hand." Erick said.

"Since there was only one bride available, he pressed hard for obtaining Elsa's hand. I think Mullon probably wasn't very pleased with that. It s one thing to give the Empire a marriage to a Princess; it is something quite different to give them the Queen and a foothold in the Baltic." Vladimiras replied.

"Then why didn't the French impose another candidate? France has more power and influence in the Northern Sea than the Empire." Erick asked.

"Because Mullon has created an alliance of minor powers which gave France a great amount of influence in the conference. But Ladislas helped him build it and I think Mullon feared that a significant part of that alliance would remain loyal to the Empire." Vladimiras answered.

"If the alliance had been broken, the English could have imposed a worse option for France than my brother." Erick concluded.

"Right. The best option for Mullon would have been another minor candidate of the alliance, but Ladislas quickly blocked that option from the beginning when he make clear that your brother was the only valid option for the Empire." Vladimiras went on.

"And the English without a candidate with support enough from the minor countries, couldn't stand against the combined influence of France, the Empire and their allies." Erick added.

Vladimiras nodded. "He tried to postpone the decision, so he could obtain a candidate acceptable for the other countries, but everybody is tired of this issue and wants to close it as soon as possible."

"I see. So Elsa of Arendelle will marry Duke Adrian Simonyi." Erick replied with grave face.

"Yes. The Queen has decreed that both sisters will marry at the same time in Arendelle's castle chapel in a week. It didn't please your step brother. He wanted to marry in Vienna in front of the Emperor, but Ladislas didn't wanted to argue with her over a minor issue like that. I think he was quite impressed by her. In fact everybody in the room was impressed."

Erick took a deep breath and Vladimiras noticed Erick's sadness. The Lithuanian was surprised, but he supposed that it was motivated by the fact that Erick's hated step brother had gotten such a victory. "Why are you so worried? You will return to your beloved Plains. You have to wait just a week."

"I'm not so sure about that. My brother managed to expel me from my regiment and any other Imperial cavalry regiment." Erick replied trying to change the topic of the conversation. He didn't wanted to talk about Elsa.

"He has taken revenge for your refusal to marry Princess Anna. What are you going to do?" Vladimiras asked looking with interest at Erick.

"I'm not sure. I could join a local cavalry squad in Italy." Erick said repeating Ladislas comment. He was so devastated by Elsa's final fate that he hadn t given one thought about his own situation.

"And spent the rest of your life chasing highwaymen and smugglers. Once you told me that you would lead great armies. Where would you found those armies in Italy?"

"Where I'm supposed to find a leaderless great army?" Erick joked.

"In Lithuania." Vladimiras quickly replied. "Come with me and I will give you the command of a hussar regiment. You will be a Lithuanian colonel."

"Lithuania doesn't have hussars." Erick replied in surprise.

"I want to modernize the army and I need good cavalry. I will raise a hussar regiment with the best riders of my Kingdom and you will teach them to fight like hussars."

"I never commanded a regiment, only a company." Erick warily objected.

"Would you know what to do with it in battle?" The Lithuanian asked.

"Of course I do!" Erick exclaimed.

"Then don't worry by the administrative details of a regiment. I will assign to your regiment officers with experience in those affairs."

"Half the Lithuanian nobility hates me. Would they serve under my orders?" Erick asked obviously interested.

"They will when they know that from your officers I will pick the future colonels of my cavalry regiments."

"What if Lithuania and the Empire go to war?"

"It wouldn't happen during my lifetime. But I promise you that, in that case, I wouldn't force you to fight against your people. I would even allow you to return to the Empire and join the Imperial army."

Erick looked at Vladimiras in astonishment. "You seem pretty interested in my services." The hussar said.

"I did see, though I think the correct word would be suffered, you commanding two companies at the same time during the retreat of my army from the Plains. I want my cavalry to fight like your soldiers."

Erick weighed for a long time Vladimiras' words. "I would be far away." He finally said remembering Elsa's words. This is a good bye kiss. We'll never see each other again.

"Don't worry about that. I will establish an embassy in Vienna. My father never accepted embassies, but I will create one in each major power's capital. You could travel to Vienna every now and then when we send any special diplomatic mission. In fact I would like it; the military attaché(*) in Vienna would thank your help to understand the Imperial army."

Erick's face lit up and smiled when he heard that words. "I have another proposal for you." He said.

"It's the first time I see you smiling since we began this conversation. I don't know what you are going to say, but I'm sure that your damned brother wouldn't be pleased." Vladimiras laughed.

"You can be certain of that." Erick replied.


"Would you open the door?" Elsa asked in loud voice. She was seated in front of her sister's room with her back leaning against the door. She was so tired that she haven't been able to stand in front of the door. Her head ached and she needed to rest, but she had to talk with her sister before. Well now it's my turn to wait in front of a closed door. I could build a snowman. She thought with an ironic smile on her face.

At that moment, the door opened and Kristoff got out. "Anna will talk with you. I'll go to my room to leave you two alone." He said while he helped the young Queen to stand up. "Are you all right?" He asked when Elsa winced in pain.

"Yes." The young Queen replied putting a hand on her side. "It's just the wound."

"After a day like this you should rest. Do I have to call Gudvard?" He asked concerned.

"No, thank you Kristoff." Elsa said while she entered into the room. The mountain man closed the door behind her.

Anna was in her bed, she hadn't removed her dress and looked rather strange with her bell-shaped skirt over the sheets.

"Anna I know that you are hurt, but believe me I did what I had to for your own good and..." Elsa began to say.

"Stop making excuses. You re only making it worse." Anna said looking at her sister. "You wanted to explain the rest of your plan. Well, I'm listening."

Elsa nodded surprised by Anna's cold tone of voice. "Yes. As I told you we will marry in few days in the castle chapel. After that I will leave Arendelle with my husband and you will remain here with Kristoff. Both of you will protect Arendelle from any external interference." The Queen of Arendelle said while she sat on the bed by her sister.

"How am I supposed to do that? I'm a Princess of Arendelle, but he will be the King."

"But he will be the King consort and he will be far away. According to Arendelle's laws the King consort only has the powers conferred by his wife. "

"Will they accept that? Duke Adrian rules a Duchy which is far greater than Arendelle and the power of the Empire is behind him. Will they respect Arendelle's laws?"

"France and England will enforce it. They won't like an Imperial foothold in the Northern Sea. The less power the Empire get in Arendelle the happier they will be. We..." A stab of pain in her head made Elsa wince. The young Queen stopped talking and hold her head between her hands.

"Are you all right?" Anna asked.

"Yes. Just a bit tired." Elsa answered. Anna gently held Elsa's shoulders and laid her down on the bed. She started to softly massaged Elsa's temples.

"Are you saying that the same people who have forced you to marry will protect us against Imperial interference?" Anna incredulously said. Her tone of voice was still cold.

"Welcome to diplomacy." Elsa replied with a sad smile on her face while she closed her eyes and relaxed due to Anna's soft touch. "Now we start another chess game. The Empire will try to control Arendelle but they can't just overrun us because that would give England or France an excuse to meddle. If I don't let my husband control Arendelle he will try to create an Imperial faction inside Arendelle. Our unruly barons would be the obvious option, but with your new title you can check them."

"My new what?"

With her head on the pillow, Elsa opened her eyes and looked up at her sister with a mischievous gaze. "Do you remember the Summary of Arendelle's laws you found in my desk. It was just one of many books I read. You thought that I was trying to deprive you of your title of Princess; on the contrary, I was trying to find how to give you more power."

Anna looked in astonishment at her sister. She tried to talk but Elsa interrupted her. "I will designate you as regent in my absence. In fact you will be a crowned one."

"A crowned what?"

"A crowned regent. Kai suggested the title of crowned Princess. He thought that it would be more impressive. It originates from one of our ancestors who put the crown on the head of his brother to check the influence of a too powerful baron while he was out in a military expedition."

"But..."

"It will allow you to rule Arendelle in my absence. The barons won't be able to defy your power, because while I'm out of Arendelle you will have more power than me. In fact, you could even ignore a written order signed by me."

"Are you sure of that?"

Elsa nodded. "I have searched every bit of Arendelle s laws regarding the transfer of power in the crown, and with Kai's invaluable help, I have made a decree which will resist any Imperial attempt to nullify it. That law was decreed by another ancestor who feared to be taken prisoner by the Southern Isles Kings during a war, and it states that the regent would have more power in the Kingdom that the King when he is out of the Kingdom. He was a wise man since he was captured by the Westergard house and died as a prisoner."

Anna looked at her elder sister in astonishment. "But those laws are very old."

"From the times when Arendelle was a warrior nation and our flag wore a helmet with a crocus. But no one repealed them so they are still fully valid, and when the time comes, you or your sons will inherit Arendelle's crown. And our Kingdom will separate from the Empire."

"The heirs to the crown of Arendelle will be your sons." Anna replied. "As Kings of Arendelle and Imperial Dukes, they could integrate Arendelle into the Empire."

Elsa shook her head. "I will never conceive a son with Adrian. I hope that he enjoys being King of Arendelle because he won't have descendants in exchange for it. I will use my powers to freeze whatever" Elsa hesitated about the word to use. "Seed he could left inside me."

Anna gulped. Elsa's eyes had gleamed with cold fury when she had talked. The Duke wasn't going to get a docile or submissive wife.

"We won't have sons, and after my death, you or your sons will inherit the Kingdom. Then Arendelle will be safe."

You will fade in your husband's miserable and remote land. The idea of her sister dying alone far away from Arendelle brought to Anna's mind Madam Gonzaga's words when they had gone to see Elias off in the docks. Anna shivered and could feel tears in her eyes.

"Why should you be the one who leaves Arendelle? Why will I marry Kristoff and you that Imperial bastard?" She said holding her tears back.

"Because I'm the root of all this mess. My powers are the problem and if I disappear, the problem will be solved."

"You aren't any problem and this is unfair." Anna tried to seem stern but her voice trembled.

"Diplomacy isn't supposed to be fair." Elsa replied. "I know you don't like this outcome, but it is the only solution. I'm sorry."

"And what about Erick?" Anna quickly asked.

"I don't understand." Elsa replied stiffening.

"Before your speech in the Portraits room you said that you were sorry for me, but also for Erick. I want to know the reason."

"I meant Kristoff. I had been talking with Erick and said the wrong name because I was nervous." Elsa replied.

"Then I can talk with Erick and ask him what happened in the eagle's nest." Anna said with feigned innocence. The way Elsa had talked about Erick and Erick's expression before the conference had raised an incredible suspicion in Anna's mind.

Elsa hesitated for a moment, but finally she shrugged and answered the question. "We kissed on the balcony."

Anna gaped speechless at her sister. "You and Erick... I meant..." Anna shook her head in surprise. "Did he steal a kiss?"

Elsa shook her head. "I was quite eager. I tried to explain it to him. I believed that he would realize that it is better to stay away from me."

"And what did he say?"

"Basically, that being reasonable is not part of being in love." Elsa replied.

Anna couldn't help laughing. "But that is wonderful!" Anna said with a broad smile on her face. Her cold demeanor had evaporated like dew under the midday sun.

"It isn't wonderful! It's terrible!" Elsa replied.

"Don't you love him?" Anna asked frowning.

"Of course I do!" Elsa replied surprised of her own vehemence. Once she had told Anna the truth, she just couldn't stop talking. "He is so impetuous. When we talk, he doesn't care if I'm the Queen of Arendelle, the Snow Queen or a peasant. Everything seems possible and you only have to be willing to pay the price." Elsa said with a faint but happy smile on her face.

"Then why is this so terrible?" Anna asked.

"Because it's impossible. I'm going to marry his brother." Elsa happy expression disappeared from her face.

"Elsa that wedding is a hollow sham."

"Of course it is! But what do you think my husband would do if he discovered us? Being his wife and Queen of Arendelle, I will be protected, but Erick would suffer the consequences. Adrian already hates him. He would kill him!"

"Maybe he ll never find out."

"Can I risk the life of the man I love in such way? And even if we weren't discovered, what kind of life I could offer him? Always hiding always at risk." Elsa shook her head. "I'm not going to do that."

"Have you asked him what he thinks about this?"

"No and I won't ask him because I will never see him again in private."

"Then why did you kiss him?"

"I don't want to talk about that." The Queen replied.

"Elsa I think you are taking this too far."

"I'm not going to risk or ruin his life just to keep him at my side. He will be safer if he stays away from me."

"Then I suppose that you don't have a great opinion about me."

"Why?" Elsa replied in surprise.

"You are describing what I did with Kristoff."

Elsa tried to raise, but she was so tired that she had to remain still on the bed. "But you are going to marry him." She finally said.

"I wasn't sure of that when we made our vows in the forest. I risked his life just to keep him close to me. But I don't regret it."

"Anna" Elsa said with weary voice fighting against her closing eyes. "I'm not judging anybody. I did what I thought was right, just like you."

"I could talk with Erick. maybe."

"I forbid you to talk with him." Elsa said finally closing her eyes.

"Elsa..." Anna began to say, but her Elder sister, exhausted, had fallen asleep.

"Oh Elsa what have you done?" Anna asked to her sleeping sister shaking her head. This isn't going to end in this way. The Princess of Arendelle said while she tenderly brushed a lock of hair off her sister's forehead.


NA: Hi everybody,

You were very close Valathe, but Elsa couldn't abdicate after the weeding. From the point of view of the marriage as a politic instrument they won't see it as fair play :).

See you in Arendelle

(*) Military attaché: A military expert who is attached to a diplomatic mission (an attaché). This post is normally filled by a high-ranking military officer who retains the commission while serving in an embassy. One of his duties was to learn as much as possible of the army of the country in which he is appointed.