Battles
"Your Majesty, with all due respect, I don't think we have the capacity to offer such a large amount of money right now," Lord Erik argues with the sincere esteem he offers. "The freeze lasted for less than three days."
"I've run the numbers," Queen Elsa counters calmly. "We would still have more than enough in the treasury, and with the help of the other nations, Arendelle could bounce back much sooner than anticipated. Besides, it's the least I can do."
An impatient huff sounds off to Elsa's right.
"Lord Sevek, did you have something to add?" the queen narrows her eyes and coats her tone in frost.
"Nothing you'd want to hear," Sevek mutters, crossing his arms. "Personal feelings have no place in politics, your Majesty. I would think your parents would have told you that already, unless they just didn't care enough-"
"That's enough!"
A collective gasp fills the air. It seems none other is more surprised than Elsa, who trains fearful eyes on the source of the outburst.
"Lord Sevek, you have done nothing but complain for the last two hours," Princess Anna, incensed, stands up from her designated seat. "And now you have the gall to drag King Agnarr and Queen Iduna's names through the mud?"
As subtly as she can, Elsa makes a 'zip it' motion across her lips, but the princess either doesn't see it or doesn't care.
"How dare you-" Sevek tries to get a word in, but Anna will not be silenced.
"Furthermore, you've offered no suggestions for helping our country recover. Every other council member has put their ideas on the table but you. If you have nothing to contribute, perhaps it would be in your best interest to leave until you can learn how to cooperate and show the queen the respect she deserves."
Elsa's composure is rapidly deteriorating. The queen cringes at her sister's protective words, and the sheer humiliation she's currently stewing in as a result of them.
"Princess Anna," Elsa begins in a severe tone that chills Anna's blood.
"Y–your Majesty, if I may?"
Elsa shoots a glance at the councilman who interjects.
"Yes, Lord Bjolnyr?"
"I believe her Highness has an excellent point. We've wasted precious time already. Might I suggest we steer the conversation back on topic? And if there are any who have a problem with the way things are going, might I suggest you see yourselves out?"
Outraged and wordless, Sevek jolts up from his chair and sweeps through the room, slamming the door like a bratty child not getting their way.
"Well, that's that, then," Bjolnyr gives a supportive smile to both the princess and queen. "Now that all the adults are present, shall we continue, your Majesty?"
Elsa takes in a deep breath, then nods.
"Yes, let's."
For the remainder of the meeting, Anna is silent and withdrawn. Elsa doesn't even glance her way. After the room clears, Anna makes for the door with the haste of someone on fire heading to water.
"Anna."
The princess freezes.
"Come here, please."
Anna has never heard this tone of voice from Elsa before. It's calm, but cold, too cold to be her warmhearted sister. Silently, she obeys, knowing that there was no way she could have gotten away with this without some words. Elsa presses her fingers to her temples before attempting to speak.
"Anna, I know how you feel about Lord Sevek, but that's no reason to go off on him for something so trivial."
"There's nothing trivial about it!" Anna thrust her hands out, causing Elsa to flinch ever so slightly. "And this has nothing to do with my personal feelings. Every meeting, all he does is go on about how Grandfather would have done things differently."
"You think I don't know that? And that's not the point. I need to fight my own battles, without my sister rushing to my defense."
"Why, Elsa? Why do you have to do everything on your own?" Anna's tone turns pleading, even with the furious blaze in her eyes. "I'm just as much a part of this kingdom as you. Don't you trust me?"
That hurts, and Anna can tell by the sudden flicker in Elsa's eyes.
"Am I just a spare to you, too?"
"Why would you think-"
"No, answer me! Does my judgment not matter? Do you think I'm just an idiot?!"
"Anna!"
The strong bellow of her name sends the princess shrinking back.
"If I ever hear anyone call you an idiot, I will personally make them regret it," Elsa growls. "I don't care what's said about me, but I will not tolerate disrespect towards you, Anna."
"See? What you're doing right now, that's all I did, and you're angry at me for that?"
The worst part is, Anna's not totally wrong.
"This is just us," the queen softens. "When it's a room full of councilmen, it's different."
"No it's not! You're not being treated fairly, and you expect me to just take that?"
Elsa tries to force down the nausea at seeing her sister so worked up on her behalf.
"It's not your place to intervene. Listen, I appreciate what you're trying to do, but don't, okay?" the queen lowers her voice, her anger having fizzled out at Anna's question. "I need to do this myself. It's not a matter of trust, I need to show that I'm capable on my own."
"You make it sound like I'm a crutch or something," a disgusted look crosses the princess' features. "We're supposed to be a team, now. Unless we're just going back to the way it was."
The look of horror on Elsa's face goes unnoticed as Anna turns her back to the queen and prepares to vacate the room.
"Anna, wait-"
"Just leave me alone right now," the princess shakes her head, hissing through her teeth. "Ignore me or let me in. But I can't do both, I just can't."
The bitter memory of Anna's voice cracking at the end of her declaration will stay with Elsa for the rest of the night.
Closing notes: I made up the councilman's names to try to sound Nordic, and I admit, I kinda bullshitted Bjolnyr by mixing bjorn and mjolnyr (sp? it's Thor's hammer, help me out, people). It's marginally better than first councilman, second councilman, it adds too many words and it's boring. Also, Anna may be slightly OOC here, but this happens probably a few days after the events of the first Frozen.
