The group of stunned spectators stared at the frozen figure that had once been Inger. She glistened and sparkled in the moonlight, simultaneously spectacular and morbid. Although everyone was shocked at the event which just transpired, each member of the group reacted in their own way. Anna appeared grieved, looking upon the icy statue of her aunt as if it pained her to watch someone suffer such an awful fate. Kristoff wore an expression of disgust, revolted by the macabre display which unfolded before them. John was somber, shaking his head in disbelief, but Peder and the guard with him had a look of inquisitive fascination, as if they wanted to approach the life-sized figurine and inspect it out of curiosity. Sven sniffed cautiously and Grand Pabbie stood in solemn contemplation.
Elsa felt none of these things. The only thing she felt was relief, relief and exhaustion so intense she had to will herself to remain upright. She noticed that Hans, too, lacked the surprise of the others. In fact, he wore no expression at all, as if the event held little significance for him. She doubted this was the case and supposed he was hiding his feelings behind a facade of indifference. This had been his mother, after all, and she couldn't imagine not being affected in some way if she'd watched her own mother experience such a dreadful end.
"I'm sorry, Hans."
"You have nothing to apologize for. She did this to herself."
"Perhaps, but she was still your mother."
"Not to me, not anymore."
His expression was flat, as if a simple statement of fact. Elsa wondered if his cold response truly represented how he felt, but she hadn't the time or energy to contemplate the question.
"She's gone," Anna said, "I can't believe she's gone."
"I always knew there was something off about her," John said, without offering further explanation. This drew Hans' attention, as if, by extension, it applied to him too.
"It is a most fortunate turn of events," Peder said.
"Peder!" Anna said.
"Well, it's true. I, for one, could hope for no better conclusion to her violent spree. If it weren't for her ignominious end she might have destroyed all of Arendelle."
No one refuted or confirmed Peder's conclusion, but Elsa suspected more than one of them shared his indifferent evaluation.
"Whatever the case," Elsa said, "I don't want her to remain in Arendelle, I don't want a reminder of the evil she's done. Pumpkin, take her away, take her to the North Mountain."
Pumpkin snatched her up in a massive hand and bounded away, passing through the rubble that had once been the north wall. They all stared after him, watching until he became a silhouette against the backdrop of the mountains.
"I'm glad she couldn't create anything like them," Anna said. "I can't imagine what would've happened if she'd unleashed an army of evil snowmen upon Arendelle."
"She was quite upset she lacked the power," Elsa said, reminded of Inger's insistence that she reveal the secret of her creations to her, the power she didn't have. However, now she knew it wasn't power that Inger lacked, it was love.
The connection between love and her creations wasn't lost on Elsa. When she used her magic to create Olaf she hadn't known he'd become a living, sentient creature. She made him in a moment of sweet sorrow, happy her sister would never again be in danger from her magic while also believing she'd never see her again. Olaf was a tribute to the sister she loved, a reminder of their time together and a manifestation of the memories she cherished. He was without a doubt the product of the strongest bonds of love. Marshmallow, too, had been created by her love for Anna and an overwhelming desire to protect her from the dangers of her magic. Even Pumpkin had come about because of her love for John, though she didn't realize it at the time, and her desire to protect him from the perils of the North Mountain.
In every instance, love was the key, the one element Inger never possessed.
"There's yet one matter to discuss," Peder said.
"And what's that?" Elsa said.
"We need to decide what to do with Hans."
Hans was standing apart from them, disengaged from their conversation and lost in his thoughts. When Peder motioned to him he stiffened and raised his head.
This issue had weighed on Elsa since Hans' awakening. The problem was complex and seeming without a solution. He'd committed great atrocities, acts that couldn't be ignored or brushed aside; at the same time, he'd been willing to give his very life to protect them, an act deserving of the highest honor. How could she administer the punishment he warranted without recognizing his courage and valor? Despite any virtuous sacrifice on his part she considered it impossible to pardon him for his crimes, which were of the most grievous nature. She wished he'd just disappear, go away and relieve her of such an impossible task, but she was the one appointed to administer justice and it was a duty she couldn't avoid.
Everyone was looking at her again, anticipating the judgment she'd pass on the man who stood before them.
"Hans," she said. Hans met her eyes without flinching. "You've committed crimes against Arendelle which are unforgivable. You've engaged in conspiracies to overthrow my kingdom, schemes to usurp the throne, and plotted to murder myself and my sister. For this, you are deserving of death."
"Elsa!" Anna said.
Elsa looked at her with an expression that said I wasn't finished.
"However, you made the ultimate sacrifice to protect us from harm, and that's something I don't consider lightly." She couldn't read Hans' expression. This wasn't unexpected, though. He had, on multiple occasions, manifested his ability to hide his true feelings. "Despite your selfless act, I believe that if you were to remain in my kingdom I'd have no choice but to bring the severest of punishments upon you. My vow to defend Arendelle and uphold its justice would demand it. That being said, I believe there's a compromise to be found here.
"My sentence is to send you back to your homeland, to the Southern Isles, and you are never to return to Arendelle. If you do, I'll be forced to pass the judgement that today I've chosen to suspend."
There was silence among the group, and Hans didn't reveal how he felt about her decree. When he responded he did so without emotion.
"You're banishing me from Arendelle?"
"Yes Hans, I'm banishing you from Arendelle."
"Elsa," John said, and she was happy to have a reason to break her gaze with Hans. "You do know if you send Hans back to the Southern Isles, our brother will likely have him put to death?"
Elsa gaped at John, speechless. She realized this was true and it derailed her entire solution.
"Hans! I don't know what to do with you!" It was true. Hans was a puzzle she couldn't solve and she was beset by frustration. "I don't have the heart to lock you in the dungeon, not after what you've done for us, but I can't have you wandering around Arendelle either. Therefore, I will have you confined to a room in the castle.
"Peder, I expect you to see to this personally. I want Hans away from the others and kept under constant guard."
"Yes, Your Majesty, it will be done."
He grabbed Hans by the arm and led him away, accompanied by another guard. They all watched until they entered the castle.
"What are you going to do about him?" Anna asked.
"I don't know. I really have no idea."
She felt an overwhelming wave of exhaustion flow through her and her knees gave way, nearly dropping her. John was quick to catch her before she could fall.
"Whoa there," he said, "I think it's time for you to call it a night."
Elsa nodded her agreement and gave John a smile.
"I'm okay," she said, pulling away. She turned toward the castle, took a step, and collapsed. Again, John caught her. The darkness closed in, creeping along the corners of her vision as it consumed her consciousness. The last thing she remembered was John scooping her into his arms.
Elsa awoke from a dreamless slumber, caught between consciousness and sleep. As she drifted upward, away from the night's embrace, she realized she didn't know where she was. This was disorienting but not alarming. She knew she was somewhere safe, she knew by the comfort of the bed that cradled her, by the warmth of the blankets which swaddled her, and the tickle of daylight upon her cheek. It didn't take long to realize she was home, and this nudged her toward wakefulness. She opened her eyes but they were assaulted by the brightness of the sun and she snapped them shut again.
"Hey you."
The familiar voice was sweet and inviting, and Elsa blinked open her eyes, letting them adjust to the light. Anna was sitting in a chair next to her nightstand.
"Hi," Elsa responded in a voice softened by rest.
"How'd you sleep?"
"Better than I have in a long time."
"And how do you feel?"
Elsa collected her thoughts, performing an internal inspection of a body still numb with sleep. She stretched her legs and pointed her toes, movements which awoke her senses and reminded her of the injuries she'd sustained. The muscles in her neck and back protested, but the pain was more soreness than anything serious. However, any complaints about her physical discomfort were silenced by a mighty growl of her stomach.
"I'm starving!"
"I figured you would be, so I brought you some breakfast."
Elsa sat up and pushed herself back until she sat against the headboard, rubbing her eyes and stretching the sleep out of her arms. She noticed she was wearing a nightdress and had the sudden memory of John carrying her to her room.
"Oh my goodness!" she exclaimed. "Did John—?"
"No," Anna said, giving a laugh. "I put you in your nightgown. John was nothing but a gentleman."
Anna grabbed a silver tray from the nightstand, setting it on Elsa's lap. There was a plate filled with cheese and crackers, sliced apples, a couple of carrots, and some cured ham. Elsa's mouth watered with anticipation as she picked up the first bite, which was exquisite, as if discovering her taste buds for the first time.
"What time is it?"
"Ten o'clock."
"Ten o'clock! I've slept half the day away!"
"You needed the rest," Anna said, sitting on the edge of the bed. "I didn't dare wake you. But you missed a few things while you were asleep."
"Oh?" Elsa washed the crackers down with a glass of water Anna handed her. "What did I miss?"
"The servants are practically bursting at the seams, they're so happy. They keep asking how you're doing and must've asked me a thousand times to tell you thank you."
"That's sweet."
"Some stayed up late last night to bake you a cake."
Anna gestured to a table across the room where a large white cake was illuminated by a shaft of sunlight. It had three tiers, the bottom as wide as a serving platter and the other two slightly smaller than the one beneath it. The entire thing was covered in feathered icing with wavy, pink swirls that traced their way around the edges. Sticking out of the top was a large, red heart with the words "We Love You" inscribed with white frosting. Elsa felt a lump in her throat and swallowed hard against it.
"It's beautiful, isn't it?" Anna said.
Elsa nodded, and that's all she could do. She was afraid if she talked she might burst into tears.
"But that's not all," Anna said, bending down to pick up a stack of papers which lay at her feet. "Many of the people came to see you this morning. You should've seen how disappointed they were when they found out you couldn't receive them."
"What are those?" Elsa said, looking at papers of various sizes and colors, some dark brown with tattered edges and others a yellow-white with corners curling inward. Anna handed her one of the yellow ones and Elsa brushed the crumbs off her hands before accepting it. A child had used crayons to draw a picture of her. She was standing in a blue dress with her arms raised and a white snowflake hanging over her head. In the corner there was a red heart with words scrawled beneath it in uneven letters. They read:
THANK U FOR SAFING US
A tear slipped down her cheek, pooling in the corner of a wide smile. She wiped it away and took the rest of the papers from Anna, thumbing through them. There were letters written in black ink which had barely dried, and she had to unstick them from the sheets above. There were more drawings, some of herself in various poses and some of the castle, ranging from simple lines and stick figures to surprisingly well crafted works of art.
"Some came last night," Anna said, "some were here early this morning. When they found out they couldn't see you these came pouring in."
"They're wonderful," Elsa said, handing them to Anna as she sat back to finish her breakfast. "Did I miss anything else?"
"Well, Martin and his men finally came off their ship."
"Oh really?"
"Yeah. John and Kristoff found them cowering in the stern. John said they were absolutely terrified."
Anna found this humorous, but Elsa shared none of her levity.
"Anyhow, we offered to let them stay in the castle but they insisted on remaining on the ship. They did come in for breakfast, though, but they're already back on their ship, doing who knows what."
"What about John's men? Are they still prisoners?"
"No, but that was the subject of a heated debate all morning."
"What do you mean?"
"John convinced Martin that Inger conspired with Jens to have their king murdered."
"Is that true?"
"Well, there's no way of knowing for sure, but I don't doubt it."
Elsa nodded her agreement as she stuck another bite of ham in her mouth and set the tray aside. Anna continued.
"Martin argues that even if King Jens is guilty of some kind of conspiracy, he still has to obey his commands. He's afraid if he comes back without John and his men he'll be punished for his failure."
"So, what's he going to do?"
"Well, first he's going to say that John's men were forced to help, that they did so only under duress, so it will look like Martin rescued them."
"What about John?"
"Assuming Jens was in on Inger's scheme, and even if he's not, when he finds out Inger's dead and you're angry—"
"I am?"
"Oh yes, very angry. In fact, you sent Martin and his men fleeing for their lives."
"I did?"
Anna laughed.
"Well, it's a good story anyhow, one that should keep Martin from getting in any trouble. I even wrote a letter to that effect and gave it to Martin. I hope you don't mind."
"Of course not."
"Martin says our lost ship was held by the Southern Isles, along with its men. I demanded in the letter, or you demanded, that everything be returned at once."
"How did it get to the Southern Isles? It was supposed to go to Weselton."
"Martin isn't sure, but he was sent to collect John after it arrived."
"Tobias must've sent it there," Elsa said, growling.
"Probably, and it's more proof Inger and Jens were working together. At any rate, King Jens will be so afraid of having invoked the wrath of the fearsome Queen of Arendelle he'll have no time to worry about little ol' Martin."
"Fearsome Queen?"
"Yeah, it's got a nice ring to it, don't you think?"
"No," Elsa said, giving her sister a playful shove off the bed.
Elsa swung her feet onto the floor, stretching and yawning. She went to a basin of water and splashed her face and neck as Anna went to the window, drawing aside the curtains.
"Here, I want to show you something," she said, as Elsa patted her face dry with a towel. She joined Anna by the window which overlooked the rose garden and framed a line of jagged, sun-drenched mountains.
"What do you see?" Anna asked.
Elsa figured Anna wasn't referring to the usual landscape which lay before them, so she searched for something unexpected, but all she saw was the same view she'd always seen.
"What? I don't see anything."
"Look at the sky."
Elsa leaned closer to the window, her breath making a small patch of fog on the glass as she tried to get a better view. The sky started as a deep shade of blue and became more brilliant as it stretched itself over the castle. Flecked against the fabric of the morning were a smattering of white, puffy clouds drifting like cotton in the wind.
"Clouds!"
"Uh, huh," Anna said, grinning.
"I'd almost forgotten what they looked like."
She followed the clouds as they lumbered across the sky, marching over the mountains. The landscape beneath them reminded her that Arendelle was still under the hand of an unnatural winter.
"We have to do something about that snow," Elsa said, stepping away from the window and scrubbing at a spot of dirt on her arm. It wouldn't come off. "But first I need a bath."
"I'll have the servants get one ready for you."
After her bath, Elsa found Anna waiting in her room holding a neatly folded emerald green dress. Elsa took it and stepped behind a changing screen, pulling it over her head. She straightened the white lace train that brushed the floor behind her, then stepped out, presenting herself to Anna who was staring out the window.
"How do I look?"
Anna went to her, tugging at the shoulders of the dress.
"Like a goddess as always," she said with a wink.
Elsa searched a plain wooden chest for some shoes, finding a pair she was fond of and pulled them on. She lifted the bottom of her dress to examine them before turning back to Anna. Anna admired her, but then her smile faded, and she looked like she was about to cry.
"What's the matter?"
Anna's eyes glimmered beneath a sheen of tears.
"I just keep thinking about how close I came to losing you."
"Oh, honey," Elsa said as she wrapped her in her arms.
Anna was strong, there was no doubt, and on more than one occasion she'd been strong enough for both of them. But below that tough, feisty exterior was a girl who was sensitive and vulnerable, a girl just as prone to doubts and fears as anyone else. She rarely showed it, but it'd always been there, as long as Elsa could remember. How often she wanted to take Anna in her arms and tell her everything would be okay, that together they could face any trial; but that was something she hadn't been able to do for a long time. Now, the warmth of Anna's embrace and the feel of her strawberry blonde hair upon her cheek, reminded her that all those years of isolation were gone.
"You'll never have to worry about that again. I won't let anything come between us, I promise."
Anna nodded, wiping away a tear.
"You know," Elsa said, "there's something I've been wanting to ask you for a long time."
"Oh?" Anna said, her face lighting up. "And what might that be?"
Elsa gave her a smile, keeping her in suspense. She wanted to savor this moment together, a moment she'd dreamed about since she was a little girl, stuck in her room, when Anna used to knock on her door and beg for her to come out and play. How she wanted to say yes all those times, and how much it hurt to have to tell her to go away. But those days were long over, and now she could tell her sister exactly what was in her heart.
"Do you want to build a snowman?"
Anna's cheeks and nose flushed red with color. She looked like she was going to simultaneously soar with delight and burst into tears.
"I can't think of anything else I'd rather do."
The girl's parted to form a gap, and Elsa extended her arm, swirling her hand and pinching her fingers. A vortex of sparkling snowflakes rose from the floor, catching the light from the window and reflecting it in glittering hues. In the midst of this colorful display appeared a stout little snowman with a big smile and stick arms held out wide. It wiggled its fingers and blinked its eyes.
"Olaf!"
"Anna!" Olaf said, in his trademark happy voice.
Anna gave him a hug.
"I've missed you so much!"
"Why?"
"Well, you've been gone for so long."
"Why?"
"I dunno," Anna said, looking at Elsa for support. "You kind of disappeared for a while."
"I did? I didn't know I could do that!"
Olaf patted himself down, as if to make sure he was all there, then his hands brushed over his face. He squealed with shock.
"Oh no! My nose forgot to come back!"
"Hang on little guy," Anna said as she retrieved a carrot from Elsa's breakfast platter. She planted it on his face and Olaf murmured with delight.
"It's perfect!"
"Hello, Olaf."
"Good morning, Elsa! It is morning, isn't it?"
"Yes, Olaf it's morning."
Olaf bounded to the window.
"It's beautiful outside. Look at all the snow! I love the way it sparkles in the sunlight."
"Yes, well I think it's time we do something about that," Elsa said. "C'mon."
She led them into the hallway and found Peder waiting outside. He greeted her with a bow and together they went down the stairs to the banquet room where Kristoff and John were sitting across from each other, the remnants of breakfast spread out before them. In fact, the entire table was littered with dishes and utensils, along with a few unfinished bites of food, as if a feast was served to a large number of people. Kristoff was smiling at something John said, and seeing them together enjoying one another's company was a wonderful sight. She couldn't remember the last time she'd seen Kristoff smile without any lines of worry to spoil it.
When John caught sight of them he leapt from his chair and, together with Kristoff, rushed around the table to meet them.
"Olaf!" Kristoff said. "It's great to see you back!"
"Yeah, I disappeared for a while."
"Yes you did."
John took Elsa's hands and kissed her on the cheek.
"You look radiant. Absolutely glowing."
"Thank you, I feel much better today."
"Yes, a good night's rest did you well."
That was an understatement if she'd ever heard one. Despite her aches and pains she felt like a new woman, which was a minor miracle considering everything she'd been through. She wondered if Grand Pabbie had used a little magic on her, and she wouldn't have been surprised if he had. That thought made her realize he wasn't there.
"Where's Grand Pabbie?"
"He left to get the rest of my family," Kristoff said, "to take them home."
"Home? Where were they?"
"As it turns out, Oaken's shop is next to a large collection of caves and hot springs, and that's where he hid them. The frost father never had a clue."
The frost father. The mention of that creature made Elsa's heart skip a beat. Though Inger could no longer threaten them with her vile magic, the frost father was still out there, a thought that put a damper on her happy spirit. She looked over her shoulder, expecting to find him staring at her with a big, toothy grin, but of course, there was no one there.
Anna was keen to pick up on her sister's distress.
"It's okay. He's gone. For good."
"What? What do you mean?"
"We kind of bumped into him in the cave, when we were looking for you."
"You killed him?"
"No, not…exactly."
"Well, what happened?"
"Remember that sliver of magic that was left inside me after…"
"Yes, I remember."
"Well, it came alive when the frost father captured us."
"He captured you?"
"Uh huh. But your magic saved us. As for the frost father…well…he won't be coming back. Ever."
Elsa shivered. The thought of her and Kristoff in the clutches of that horrible monster was almost too much to even consider. Realizing how close she'd come to losing her sister again left her feeling stunned, but beneath that blanket of numbness was a spot of warmth, a sense of relief that Anna was safe and they'd never have to fear the frost trolls again.
She gave Anna a hug.
"I'm so glad you're okay. I'm glad everyone's okay."
"Well, not everyone," John said. "Not yet, anyhow. Martin and his men are trying to dig their ship out of the ice as we speak."
"Really?"
The enormity of that challenge placed it firmly on the border of impossibility, and she couldn't imagine anyone attempting such a thing.
"I told him to wait," Kristoff said. "I told him you'd fix everything when you were able, but he didn't seem convinced."
Elsa felt a tinge of pity for the poor fellow. She didn't know anything about the man, but all he'd known since he arrived was fear. But now the time for fear was over, and she was eager to free her kingdom from the unnatural winter.
"Well, let's see if we can help him, shall we?"
"We?" John asked as they headed for the courtyard.
There was a guard standing outside the dining hall and Elsa stopped to address him.
"Please have a plate of food delivered to Hans."
The guard left to carry out her order.
As they approached the exit, Elsa's first thought was someone had left the doors open, as the hallway was bathed in morning light. Then she recalled there were no doors, not anymore, and she had a vision of their final moments as they showered upon her in broken pieces of wood. She pushed the memory away as she stepped outside, blinking against the brightness of the sun. The others gathered behind her, except for Olaf, who hopped toward the fjord, staring in awe at the giant wave towering over the courtyard.
"Wow! Your new ice palace is great, Elsa, but how do you get inside?"
"It's not a palace," Anna said, "it's a wave."
"Oh," Olaf said. He turned back to have another look before facing Anna again, confused. "Should I wave back?"
Olaf continued to search the courtyard, but he didn't seem to be troubled by all the damage.
"Where's Sven?" He asked.
"In the stable," Kristoff said, "sleeping."
"Olaf," Elsa said, "there are men on the fjord, behind that boat." She pointed to the tip of a mast which peeked over the wall from the docks. "Tell them to get off the ice, if they don't want to get wet."
"Okay!"
Unlike Olaf, Elsa wasn't blissfully unaware of the condition of her kingdom. Along with the problem of the frozen fjord, the hills of Arendelle were covered with snow, reflecting the light of the morning like a mirror, and the gigantic wave looming over them was a silent witness to the horror of the previous evening. She was eager to be rid of any reminder of that tragic night, but she had to wait until Martin and his men were clear of the ice.
When Olaf returned, he was followed by a gang of men, a dozen or so sailors who were bunched together behind Martin and trailing the snowman by quite a distance. In fact, Olaf didn't seem aware he was being followed as he trotted across the bridge to rejoin their company.
The men stopped on the other side of the bridge. She waited for them to approach but they remained where they were, standing in the town square like curious children who gathered for a fireworks display. She didn't like being the focus of their attention, but she supposed they couldn't be blamed for their curiosity. At any rate, they were out of harm's way, and that's what was important.
She raised her hands to the sky, her arms forming a "V" and her palms pointing up with fingers spread. At once, the snow peeled itself from the ground, a white mist rising off the castle, houses, and mountains surrounding them. The frosty spray was followed by larger clumps of snow, and as they tore themselves away from the objects they clung to, they revealed the color hidden beneath them; the green of the grass, the brown and grey of the houses, and the white and blue of the castle. Some people came out of their homes, others opened their shutters and watched with delight as the unnatural winter made a slow ascent into the sky. The snow streamed through the air like floating rivers, merging together as they flowed in from every part of Arendelle. As Elsa drew her hands together these ribbons of glistening white collected to form a large, sparkling snowflake high above their heads. Then Elsa swept her arms outward and the gigantic snowflake burst into a thousand dots of color, disappearing.
Anna put a hand on her shoulder and they exchanged a smile. John was still staring at the sky as if he didn't believe what he'd just witnessed.
"That was beautiful."
"Thank you, but I think it was a little slow in coming."
"Better late than never."
Next, Elsa turned her attention to the harbor. She extended her arms with her fingers splayed out, and the enormous wave melted, congealing into a slush and sinking into the fjord as if pushed down by a giant hand. The waters beneath it thawed also, creeping back toward the docks and covering the rocks and sand exposed by the receding shoreline. As the slush dissolved it lifted the bow of Martin's ship, raising it upright with the sound of creaking wood. The masts swayed, their pitch slowing until the ship came to a rest. Small waves with white crests lapped at the bank of the harbor until everything settled into silence again.
With the snow and ice gone there was nothing to impede the warmth of the sun, and the frosty morning gave way to a warm, fall day. The faint sounds of applause and cries of joy drifted down from the slopes of Arendelle.
A commotion in the square drew her attention and she heard the men shouting and arguing amongst themselves, but what they were arguing about she couldn't tell. Then Martin raised his arms and they grew quiet, and after a moment of conversation they turned away, heading back toward the docks and leaving their leader by himself. Martin crossed the bridge and hurried toward the castle.
As he approached, Elsa was unsure of what to make of him. After all, he represented a country who'd been allied with her aunt, perhaps even complicit in the planned overthrow of Arendelle. On the other hand, he was just a servant like any other, bound by an oath to serve their king and often not privy to the secrets of those they served. So, who was this man?
He stopped a good ten paces away and bent down on one knee, bowing his head.
"Your Majesty," he said with due reverence, if not a hint of nervousness. His show of respect appeared genuine. Perhaps there was no reason to question his motives after all.
"Hello, Martin," Elsa said, motioning for him to rise. He obeyed, but retained his distance. "I'm glad to see you're unharmed. Are you and your men well?"
"Yes, Your Majesty. My men and I weren't hurt during the…during…" He glanced at the fjord as if it might provide the inspiration for the words he was searching for. It didn't, and he looked back at Elsa with a blank expression.
"I'm glad to hear that. I suppose an apology is in order. I assure you, Arendelle isn't usually such a hostile place to visit."
"Quite to the contrary, Your Majesty, it is I who owes you an apology. I'm ashamed of those who represent the Southern Isles, and I can promise you I had no foreknowledge of their actions."
This Elsa believed. After all, he'd been sent here to imprison John and yet agreed to release him at Kristoff's request. These weren't the actions of a deceiver, and so Elsa motioned for him to come closer. He hesitated, glancing over his shoulder before approaching.
"Princess Anna tells me you'll be fleeing for your lives shortly," Elsa said with a wink. Martin cocked an eyebrow and for the first time Elsa thought she saw a crack in his wall of apprehension.
"Yes, Your Majesty. My men are preparing the ship now. We'll be setting sail in a moment, without the company of our intended target." He looked at John when he said that.
"Leaving so quickly?" Elsa said. "I don't suppose I could convince you to stay one more evening? A proper night's rest would do you well, I should think."
"That's very kind, Your Majesty, but if my men and I are to be chased away, perhaps a hasty departure would be in order?"
She didn't like the idea of these men setting out to sea without proper rest. She doubted any of them had enjoyed a wink of sleep over the past couple of days and she knew it didn't take an evil sorceress to make the ocean a dangerous place to travel. But Martin was right. If this story was to be convincing, they needed to play the part.
"Very well."
"Besides, we have business in Weseltown before we return home. We can take our rest there."
Weseltown. That name conjured an image of its duke, and she wrinkled her nose in disgust. She didn't know what bothered her more, that the duke had allied himself against Arendelle or that he might get off scot free for his crimes.
Or would he?
"I have a favor to ask," Elsa said.
"Of course, if it is within my power."
"I want you to deliver a gift to the Duke of Weseltown, but he must never know its source. Tell him what you want, but don't reveal it's from Arendelle."
"Okay?" It was more of a question than a statement.
Elsa held out her palm and swirled her other hand above it as if she were stirring an invisible pot. A white cloud of mist sprang forth, concealing her hand and churning before dissipating, revealing a crystal ball. It was as large as a head of cabbage and suspended inside it was a family of snowmen; a father, a mother, and two children. They had tiny buttons for eyes and smiles painted on their faces. Snow appeared to whirl around them, and the whole thing glittered as if made of diamonds.
"A snow globe!" Anna said with excitement, before slumping her shoulders in confusion. "Wait. A snow globe?"
"Deliver this, please." Elsa said, holding out the gift. "Just remember, it didn't come from Arendelle."
Martin accepted it, unable to resist the urge to shake it. The globe was filled with a white cloud of sparkling fury which devoured the snowmen, only to reappear again as the snow settled.
"I will do as you request," Martin said with a bow.
"Thank you."
"No, thank you, Your Majesty. We owe you our lives. I…I owe you my life."
"You're most welcome, Martin."
"Take care, John," Martin said, giving John a nod.
"Watch yourself, Martin. Jens isn't someone you want to have as your enemy."
"Worry not," Martin said, then he bowed and took his leave. They watched until he was out of view.
"I hope he'll be okay," Anna said.
"I think he'll be fine," John said.
"And what about you?" Elsa asked John.
"Me? What do you mean?"
"You're stuck in Arendelle with no idea when you can go back home."
"That's true."
Elsa wondered how he felt about his situation. She knew a ship from the Southern Isles would likely never return, or if one did, it wouldn't be for a long while.
"However," he continued, "home isn't a place to be found on a map, not for me anyway. It isn't the country where one is born or the house where you were raised. Home is with the people who have captured your heart, and for me, that's here."
He stared at the harbor and Elsa put a hand on his shoulder, leaning her head on his arm. He slipped an arm around her waist and they stood looking out over the water, which reflected the sky like a pane of glass. She couldn't help but wonder what lay ahead for John's men. Would the ruse work? Her heart ached for them.
"Hans is stuck here, too," Kristoff said.
"Way to ruin the moment, Kristoff," Anna said, slapping him on the shoulder.
"Well it's true. He's stuck here and we're stuck with him. It's not exactly a pleasant thought, is it?"
They all shared their doubts about Hans, however, it was Elsa who was most troubled by this. The question of what to do with him would not be so easily put to rest. She couldn't sentence him to a lifetime of imprisonment, not after what he'd done for them; but neither did she want him becoming a resident of Arendelle after serving a sentence, however long it may be. Banishment was obviously the best solution, but there was nowhere she could send him that was beyond the reach of King Jens, so any such action amounted to a death sentence. She squeezed her eyes shut, fighting against a sudden headache threatening to appear.
There was a shout of alarm from behind her.
"Queen Elsa!"
She whirled toward the voice as a guard emerged from the castle, leaping down the steps as he called her name.
"Queen Elsa!"
He was out of breath, waving a yellow sheet of paper before him which she plucked from his hand.
"What's this?"
"Hans! He's gone!"
"What do you mean he's gone?"
"He's gone! He's escaped!"
"Escaped?" John said, stepping closer so he could see the paper Elsa was holding. It had curled in on itself, so she pulled on the edges until it was flat, noticing the ink was still tacky. It couldn't have been penned more than an hour ago.
"What does it say?" Anna asked.
"Queen Elsa," Elsa read aloud. "By the time you read this I will be well away from Arendelle."
Elsa looked up, meeting eyes with John, then everyone turned to the fjord in unison. Martin's ship passed through the sea gate, approaching open waters.
"No he didn't," Elsa said, watching as the ship's sails turned, rotating with the mast until they caught the winds of the fjord.
"Search the castle," Elsa said. "Make sure he's not hiding somewhere."
"It's being searched as we speak, but you should know, he escaped through the window."
"On the top floor?" Kristoff said.
The guard nodded.
"What else does the note say?" John asked.
Elsa continued.
"I've decided to save you the trouble of deciding what to do with me. I've no doubt you would've been more than fair in selecting my fate, however, I have important matters to attend to, which require my attention.
"As you well know, there's a tyrant ruling over my homeland, a tyrant I fear will only grow in power if he isn't stopped. This is a concern to both of us, so it's my intention to stop him. If my plan proves sound, I will lead a rebellion to oppose him and, hopefully, depose him.
"If I succeed you'll no longer have to worry about any threat from the Southern Isles. If I fail, then I will have reaped the consequences of my actions and you'll have the justice you deserve. Either way, I believe you stand to benefit from my actions.
"Take care, and I wish you the best of luck in rebuilding Arendelle."
She looked up, dumbfounded, and no one had anything to say in reply.
"It's signed 'Hans Westergaard'," she said, handing the letter to John.
"Well, how about that?" Kristoff said. "His last name isn't 'Of-The-Southern-Isles' after all!"
"Ha ha," Anna said, "very funny."
John turned the paper over a couple of times, inspecting it, then handed it back to Elsa.
"It's definitely his handwriting, and I don't think you'll find him in Arendelle. I have no doubt he's doing exactly what he said."
Elsa had so many questions but knew no one among them could provide her with answers. Still they plagued her. How had he escaped without detection, especially considering he'd been held on the upper floor of the castle? How had he gained access to Martin's ship? Did Martin know Hans was aboard? If not, how was he able to remain hidden and stowaway?
"So that's it?" Kristoff said. "He gets away just like that?"
Elsa had no response. Truth be told, she was relieved Hans left. With one stroke of his pen he'd provided her with a solution to an impossible problem. He was gone and she couldn't be happier about it.
"Do you think he has any chance?" Elsa asked.
John shrugged.
"It's hard to say. There are plenty of people willing to join Hans' cause, including my men. At the same time, Jens commands a large number of skilled guards, and many of the Lords are loyal to the crown."
Kristoff shook his head and kicked at the steps.
"I just don't think it's right."
"Right or not," John said, "he could be doing us all a favor."
"So what do we do?" Anna asked.
It was a question they'd asked time and time again over the past few days, and the answers had never come easy. However, this was one question Elsa knew the answer to.
"I think there's only one thing we can do."
"What's that?" Anna asked.
"I suggest we take Hans' advice."
"What?!" Kristoff said.
"What do you mean?" Anna asked.
Elsa smiled.
"I think it's time we rebuild Arendelle."
