Chapter Forty Two

A Better Legacy

ELSA

The horses were reined to a steady canter as the carriage neared the vicinity of the Stillcreek prison facility. After Ingrid had been defeated, the Warriors had teleported back to Swynvort first to regroup, and then brought everyone back to Arendelle. The Queen's Guardsmen were stupefied to see the queen, the princess, and so many more people pouring through a portal of purple mist and into the castle.

They had been even more surprised and stunned to see Maui carrying a frail, sick looking woman cloaked in black. Elsa had ordered that Ingrid be immediately taken to Stillcreek with extra precautionary measures in place. She could not risk Ingrid pulling a last desperate move. Who knew if the witch had been lying dormant, cunningly plotting to make her escape? Thankfully, she didn't, and had been locked up in Stillcreek's maximum security wing overnight, being watched by an excessive number of prison guards.

"Your Majesty. Your Highness." Frederick's crisp voice brought Elsa back to the present. "We've arrived."

"Thanks, Fred." Anna opened the carriage door and jumped out before the escorts could make a move.

"Thanks, Frederick." Elsa said, getting down gingerly from the carriage, waving away the help of the escorts. "Oh, and one more thing."

"Yes, Your Highness?"

"Remind me to sign the papers later."

"Papers?" Anna looked at Elsa in confusion.

Frederick raised an eyebrow. "I'm not sure I follow, Your Majesty."

"With Colonel Jakob arrested for treason, the Arendellian Brigade is left without a Commanding Officer." Elsa smiled coyly.

"No…" For once, Frederick looked genuinely appalled. "That's…I can't possibly-"

"The army needs you, Colonel Frederick." Elsa said firmly. "Queen's orders."

"I see…Well then, since you put it that way," Frederick flashed a grin. "I guess I can't refuse, can I?"

"Congrats!" Anna squealed, patting the newly promoted Colonel on the back. "Colonel Frederick! Has a nice ring to it."

"I don't know what to say." Frederick flushed a little over the applause and salutes from the escorts in the Queen's Guard.

"A thank you would be nice." Elsa nudged him playfully. "It's the least I could do after everything you've done for us…and for Father."

"Right." Frederick cleared his throat and drew himself up. "Thank you, Your Majesty. And thank you, Your Highness."

"Now," Elsa walked toward the gates of Stillcreek. "Maybe you can make good on your new promotion and see about getting us into the Maximum Security Wing so that we can talk to the Pilgrim."

###

As usual, the process of seeing a prisoner without prior notice was a long and arduous one, especially since the prisoner was locked up in the Maximum Security Wing and under high priority surveillance. Finally with the Warden's help, the two sisters accompanied by the newly promoted Colonel were brought to the Maximum Security Wing, which was a whole different environment from where Elsa had gone to speak with Tobias. The Maximum Security Wing had triple the number of guards, with sharpshooters perched on vantage points, and well maintained cells to ensure that no prisoner could attempt escape. It was rather impressive, really.

Arriving outside a spacious cell that was panelled all around with glass, Elsa saw that Ingrid was dressed in the standard prison uniform, just as Tobias had been, and was lying on her narrow bed with her back to the glass. Seeing the cunning witch like that really put her in a different light. And in her frail state of health, Ingrid really looked like she didn't belong in prison, let alone the Maximum Security Wing. However, Elsa knew the truth. Ingrid was a woman not to be underestimated, even if she was locked up in prison.

"Anna, are you sure you want to be here?" Elsa turned to her sister as Frederick and the Warden backed away to give the two Royals some privacy.

Anna set her jaw. "Of course."

Taking a deep breath, Elsa knocked on the glass panel. Ingrid turned, and her mouth turned upward in a crooked smile when she saw her former apprentice standing outside her cell. A chill went down Elsa's spine and she had to remind herself that she was no longer a prisoner of the League. Quite the opposite, in fact.

"Elsa. Anna." Ingrid acknowledged the two sisters, her voice travelling through an elaborate system that enabled the two opposing sides to communicate through the glass. "What a surprise. I have to admit, this is an unpleasant change. Now I know how you felt when I locked you up in the dungeon that very first night. But not to worry, Janus will be here soon to break me out."

Anna smirked. "Then I guess you don't know."

"Don't know what?"

"Janus turned on you and took the Knights of Vengeance with him." Elsa said. "He refused to attack us, choosing instead to flee from Swynvort."

"That…" It took Ingrid a moment for the realization that no one was coming to save her to set in. "Is unexpected. He must really like you, then."

Elsa looked at her. "No. The way you treated him, it was more than enough to drive him away. I just helped him to see that being a mercenary for you was wrong. But he already knew that."

"He's a mercenary, Elsa." Ingrid hissed. "What, you think just because you gave him a little sweet talk, he's going to change? Killing is in his blood, that's why I hired him in the first place."

Elsa shook her head. "I believe there's good inside him. Deep down, he has a heart and a conscience. Regardless, that's not what I'm here to talk about."

"Then why are you really here?"

"We came to tell you that your plan failed." Anna said proudly. "Sure, the League spies did their work. They infiltrated our government and leaked our father's secret to the public. But they failed."

Ingrid arched her eyebrow curiously. "How so?"

"You'd hoped to turn the people against us." Elsa said. "But you didn't account for one thing."

"And what's that?"

"The Arendellian spirit." Anna said. "The people believe in their queen."

"They believe in us." Elsa looked at Ingrid with a victorious look on her face. "You wanted to shake their faith in the Royal family, but you failed. Arendelle stands with us, and everyone knows of the existence of the League now."

"You told them-"

"Yes." Elsa said. "The world now knows that the League of Sorcerers is real."

There was a mixed look of confusion and dismay on Ingrid's face, though she was trying hard not to show it. "Why would you do that?"

"It's time for the League to step into the light." Elsa answered. "It's time for the League to return to its original purpose and intentions. To be used for some real good in the world."

Ingrid silently contemplated what Elsa had said, and then laughed humourlessly.

"What's so funny?" Anna asked.

"I just realized something," Ingrid scoffed and coughed, her voice raspy and unhealthy sounding. "That prophecy all those years ago, it did come to pass after all."

Elsa and Anna glanced at each other in slight worry. "What are you talking about?"

"Before my predecessor died, he placed a curse on me. He said that an Elemental Sorcerer would be the one to dethrone me and succeed me as the Seventh Pilgrim." Ingrid shook her head and smiled. "I guess prophecies do come true."

"You mean-"

"You're the new Pilgrim, Elsa." Ingrid looked at her. "The League of Sorcerers is yours to command."

Elsa looked stumped. This was not what she had been expecting at all when she decided to come to Stillcreek. "No…I don't-" she stuttered. "I-I only want to help them. I-"

"That's not your choice, Elsa." Ingrid somehow knew what she wanted to say. "When a sorcerer ascends to the title of the Pilgrim, the League is sworn to obey their new leader." She placed a hand on the glass panel. "Well done, Elsa. You accomplished the one thing that only six others have done before you."

Elsa stared silently at Ingrid, then at Anna, and then back at Ingrid again.

"Just a word of advice," Ingrid coughed. "Since I've got nothing left to lose anyway. The sorcerers will look to you for direction. It's up to you to make the League whatever you want it to be. Choose wisely."

Elsa nodded slowly. "I will. And Ingrid?"

"Yes?"

"In spite of everything you've done to my family, all the hurt you've caused us," Elsa said. "I promise your last days will be comfortable."

Ingrid stared at her, and then laughed, shaking her head. "Goodbye Elsa." Ingrid coughed again and settled back down on her bed.

Together with Anna, Elsa walked away from the cell, knowing that it would be the last time she would ever see Ingrid.

Anna waited till they were far enough before she spoke. "And now to address the elephant in the room."

Elsa glanced at her sister.

"Now that you're the new Pilgrim," Anna said. "What happens now?"

Elsa sighed deeply. Truthfully, she didn't have an answer. Or a concrete one, at least. "We start by getting back to the palace. There's still work to be done."

Author's Commentary:

Writing the resolution of a story is always hard. But in this case, there's so many loose ends to tie up that it's hard to end the story quickly. First of all, the biggest loose end was King Agnarr's secret. Elsa and Anna have to attempt to win back the trust of their people.

But more than that, they have to patch up their own differences. In the past, Elsa never truly saw her sister as an equal, always seeing Anna as a fragile and powerless person she needed to protect. But now, Elsa sees her sister in a different light. Anna has proven herself to be a formidable Warrior, and can take care of herself. And thus, no more secrets between them. Anna and Elsa start afresh in their relationship, working together to build a better legacy for their family name.

And that's not all. Elsa learns something that will change the course of her life. The League of Sorcerers is now hers to command. What is she going to do now that she is the seventh person in history to ascend to the title of the Pilgrim? Stick around. There's a few chapters left and then we'll be closing this book, only to gear up for the next