/* Author's note - Well I guess you didn't really have to wait at all for this chapter. The same note applies for the time being though: I will try to keep writing and updating quickly, but I make no promises. */
Though she stayed in her bedroll just in case Prince Pierre came to check on her, Anna was as far from sleep as possible. She repetitively pushed her covers aside to reach out and rest her hand on the ground to check the temperature. Each time she was disappointed. Finally, sometime after midnight, when it was pitch black and Anna couldn't even see the other side of her tent, she reached out to feel the ground and her fingers met a thin layer of frost.
A smile filled her face and she rolled out of her bed. After carefully rearranging her bedding to look as though she was still in it, Anna crossed the tent to crouch beside the entrance, on the opposite side from her bed. She settled in to wait for her opportunity. It was time.
Kristoff silently crept across the open ground between the hollows where their groups were stationed. Hans and Niels each had a group of soldiers and were on the road in behind the camp and to the left of it respectively. Marshmallow and Olaf were on their own to the right, and Elsa was with her own group of soldiers directly in front, between Pierre and his capital. Kristoff was just finishing a circuit to ensure that everyone was in position and ready for the attack.
He slunk from shadow to shadow – which was made easier by the late hour and the waning moon. When he reached Elsa, she raised her eyebrow in silent question and he nodded in reply. A ghost of a smile flitted across her face, but it was dark and ominous. Kristoff repressed a shiver and was grateful that he wasn't the target of her ire.
Elsa crouched down and placed one hand on the ground. A wave of ice shot out from under it to her left and right, racing away across the ground in a giant arc. Kristoff knew that it would continue until it intersected itself, forming a perfect circle around the camp and letting the others know it was time to move. With a wave of her free hand, Elsa directed her men to step inside the circle. When they were all inside, she also pivoted to be inside, then stood, slowly raising her hand. The ice followed.
Kristoff stared in mesmerized fascination as the ring of ice rose higher and higher into the air. With a last upward thrust, Elsa sent the wall shooting up past herself. In only a few seconds, they were surrounded by a towering, 20 foot wall that was at least five feet thick. Kristoff reached out to touch it with an awed look on his face. A flash of movement in the corner of his eye drew his attention back to Elsa, who had already started her march toward Pierre's camp. He hurried to catch up.
When he saw the ice circle form and the wall begin to rise, Hans called his soldiers to order. With a few silent gestures, he told them exactly what he expected. They silently saluted him in acknowledgement and Hans led the way forward.
I'm coming Anna, he thought, I just hope you understood my message and aren't going to punch me again for it.
"Wow…" breathed Olaf, "Isn't that amazing?"
Marshmallow growled quietly in answer.
"I know," said Olaf, "But look at that wall! Have you ever seen such an awesome piece of ice?"
This time his growl was sharper and Marshmallow grabbed Olaf by the head to drag him towards the camp.
"Hey!" protested Olaf, "I still need my body!"
Olaf's body was running blindly after them, waving its arms. Marshmallow grunted, then redeposited Olaf's head on top of it.
"Next time why don't you just ask?" he suggested, straightening himself out.
As planned, Niels was the first to reach the outskirts of the camp. They circled around, taking out the sentries quietly. When possible, they were tied and gagged. Those who resisted were either knocked unconscious or killed. When the sentries were clear, Niels' soldiers took their places and Niels gave the sign for the next stage.
His sword rang as he drew it clear of his sheath. Niels faced out into the night and called out with authority, "Qui passe?"
Hearing his brother's call, Hans stood up from where he was hidden and approached boldly. "Un ami," he replied, walking up to salute his brother.
They crossed swords briefly in acknowledgement, then Niels stepped back and turned in towards the camp. "Shall we?" he asked.
Hans smiled grimly, "We shall." He raised his voice and called over his shoulder, "Men! Attack!"
Anna heard the yell to attack and smiled grimly to herself. She knew that Pierre would come for her first, either to ensure she didn't escape or so he could have a hostage. Either way, she would be his first priority. Anna shifted slightly as she listened to the sound of swords clashing outside. She wondered how the soldiers could see to fight without accidentally attacking the wrong person, then remembered the sentry fires around the outer edge of the camp. She made a mental note that once she was out of the tent she needed to stay out of sight. Pounding footsteps approached and she braced herself to attack.
"Has anyone been in or out?" demanded Pierre. Anna scowled.
"No Your Highness," said one of her guards, "There's been no disturbance here at all. I believe the princess is likely still asleep." Anna's scowl shifted into a satisfied smirk.
With no other warning, Pierre threw open the flap of the tent and burst in. He took two steps towards her bed before coming to a confused halt. Anna held her breath and waited.
"Where is she?" Pierre hissed. He spun around to scan the rest of the tent. Anna was waiting. When he was facing her, she stepped forward quickly and swung. Her fist connected solidly with his jaw and snapped his head back. Pierre's arms windmilled as he tried to keep his balance before he crashed to the ground. Anna paused just long enough to ensure that he wouldn't be getting back up in the immediate future, then ducked out of the tent and ran.
"Excuse me," said Olaf to two guards standing with drawn swords outside a tent but without leaving their post to join the battle, "I'm Olaf. Is this Princess Anna's tent?"
The men stared at him for a moment without answering. Then one yelled and swung his sword. It sliced off Olaf's head and sent it flying onto a nearby barrel. Olaf sighed in annoyance, "Not again! Hey body! Over here! No, not that way! You're going to run into the other guard!" Sure enough, Olaf's body ran straight into the other guard who reacted by screaming and lashing out, trying to kick it away. His companion crossed over to help chase it off, leaving the tent unguarded.
Olaf scowled in annoyance, "Maybe I should ask Elsa to put an eye on my body so that it can find me when we're separated. This is getting really old." He stared after his body which was now scampering away in the opposite direction. He took a deep breath to call out again (forgetting that his body had no way to hear him either) when he was distracted by a movement at the tent.
A figure with long red hair appeared, paused for the briefest possible moment to scan the area, then set off at a run following the clearest path to the edge of the camp. Olaf's eye widened and he choked on his own words. Trying to do something to get to her, Olaf managed to roll his head off the barrel and onto the ground but could go no further. "Anna!" he called out, but she didn't even turn. "Oh bother! Now what do I do?"
Despite the reduction to their numbers and the surprise of a night attack, Pierre's men managed to quickly collect their swords and meet Hans and Niels' charge. Some of the men formed up and started to make their way around the camp in an effort to outflank them. Just as they were about to reach a safe position from which to attack, a huge roar filled the air.
For a short time, all became still again as everyone turned to look at the source of the sound. A giant snowman with icicles on his elbows, knees and shoulders appeared at the edge of the campsite. After a few seconds of silence, one man let out a scream of terror. The moment was broken, and men on both sides resumed fighting. Those who had trying to perform the flanking manoeuvre cowered back and turned to face the angry monster that had appeared behind them.
With another bellow of rage, Marshmallow lumbered forward and swung one arm towards the soldiers gathered in front of him. Yells of pain and terror filled the air as half a dozen men went flying. Most did not get back up from where they landed. He swung again and more men went flying. A man darted forward, aiming for the snow-monster's leg, but Marshmallow wasn't getting caught that way twice. He lifted his foot and – as the man came to a stumbling halt – stomped down on top of him. His scream was cut short. Marshmallow roared again, and this time all of Pierre's remaining men scattered.
Elsa watched impatiently from the shadows. She hated doing nothing while the others fought, but she knew that she needed to do her part to ensure their success. She watched with narrowed eyes, trying to find Prince Pierre, but there was no sign of him. She couldn't see Hans or Niels, but she could hear the clashing of swords and see their soldiers fighting.
The ground shook and Elsa spread her arms to keep her balance. She looked towards Marshmallow to see him let out another roar and the men in front of him scatter. A smile crossed her face.
Confidently, Elsa planted her foot and a new layer of frost shot out from under it. It raced away through the night, reflecting the light from the few campfires that hadn't been extinguished to ring the campsite. When she could no longer see men fleeing, Elsa raised her arms to bring up a second wall, trapping Pierre's men outside so they couldn't return to interfere.
Still smiling, Elsa strode forward into the middle of the camp, looking for her target.
Hans knocked the man he was fighting on the head with the pommel of his sword, rendering him unconscious, then spun to scan for more threats. He saw nothing. Gradually the stillness that followed the end of every battle registered in his mind, so he straightened up while wiping his blade, then sheathed it. Hans revolved slowly on the spot, scanning the camp. When he located the tent where he had seen Pierre escort Anna during the day, he started towards it at a quick trot, breaking into a run after only a few steps.
He barely registered Olaf's head lying on the ground nearby as he ripped open the flap and ducked in. The only person there was Pierre, who was groggily sitting up and rubbing his jaw. Hans grabbed him by the shirt and shook him violently. "Where is she?" he demanded.
Pierre looked up at him blankly for a moment before settling his face into a glare. "Like she wants you to find her after today," he sneered.
Hans ignored him and shook him again, hard enough to make Pierre wince in pain as his head wobbled. "Where is she?" Hans shouted. Pierre just laughed. Hans shoved him back down onto the ground roughly in disgust. He knew Pierre had no escape, and finding Anna was more important. He burst back out of the tent and spun on the spot, trying to see where she could have gone.
"Hans!" called Olaf, "Could you bring me my butt please?"
Not seeing any sign of her, Hans sighed and walked over to where Olaf's body was sitting on top of the face of an unconscious soldier. He picked it up and carried it back to Olaf's head, then put his head back on his body. Olaf reached up with his hands to straighten himself out and smiled at Hans. "Thanks! Though I feel a little shorter. I think that sword cut a slice off my body!"
Hans ignored Olaf's ramblings and went back to scanning the area. "Have you seen Anna?" he asked anxiously, "Do you know where she went?"
"Well that's easy," said Olaf. He pointed. "She went that way!"
Hans took off at a run in the direction Olaf had pointed, calling out for Anna.
