Chapter Thirty-Eight

"Some souls are connected by an ancient calling beyond worlds"

"With all due respect; are you sure that this is gonna work my lady?" the rather doubtful voice of Master Skelg, representative of the Miner Guilds of Arendelle sounds urging Silvanna to roll her eyes at the doubt of the man's voice. In a way he is right to be doubtful.

Currently Silvanna and Elsa is continuing there two week trip around Arendelle visiting the fiefs and barons under the Crown's (or in this case, Silvanna's domain). Like any blooming business, a kingdom must be regularly inspected personally by its leader to make sure that it is running in top shape. Leave it unattended after all and corruption will seep into its cracks like weeds destroying a kingdom from within. Ruling after a cadre of nobles in charge of their own fiefs and armies is like herding a pack of goats wanting a piece of oatmeal. That is why Silvanna is doing this trip, to make sure that the progress of Arendelle benefits and reaches the people; not simply being hogged by the pathetic douchebags at top. Nobles after all throughout history simply look after themselves first rather than the people under them. Corruption is a disease and had been the downfall of powerful nations like Rome, Constantinople, and many others if left unchecked.

Already four noblemen had been found hoarding goods and money to themselves leaving their subjects under the dust forcing Silvanna to bag and tag them before being escorted by their guards back to Arendelle. Rangers assigned to different lands usually bring evidence and information to her and Silvanna was not merciful to the bastards or to their families as they were dragged kicking and screaming to the cells where they belong.

Right now though; Silvanna along with Elsa and their escorts are at the topmost fief of Arendelle under Baron Smelter Redrock. Redrock Fief named after the line of Redrocks that rule it is one of Arendelle's older lines and first settlers. Before under King Agdar, it is no larger than a large village with the noble's house at its centre. Its primary purpose before was providing goods and supplies for travelling Nords taking the Northern road and the seasonal Ice Harvesters who had to go farther north to find and harvest ice from the frozen lakes during winter. Now though it is a bustling large town with travellers coming back and fro.

Personally Silvanna likes the young Baron. Smelter can be described in one word, geek. Unlike the other nobles of Arendelle, he couldn't care less about his reputation, gold or power. Unlike them; his wife is a commoner, Lady Michelle, a daughter of his head servant who loves to read even though she's not from high birth. Smelter in a way is a bookworm, an embarrassment to his family before but with him being the only child, he inherited his fiefdom. Thus with the rise of Arendelle in riches and power, Smelter instead of hoarding gold; hoarded books instead. With international trade booming due to the influx of foreign merchants with the creation of the Winter Bank, he did his best to grab tomes left and right storing them in a massive library at Redrock.

Ironically his hobby became the thing that made Redrock the source of knowledge in this part of the world.

With Arendelle booming, nobles, craftsmen, Knights, bankers, scholars, priests, many people of renown and even regular folk seeking ideas come to the Library of Redrock for information. It is the first time someone opened an official public library for free(with a little advice from our very beloved Knightess). Knowledge after all is apparently hoarded by the nobles only. With the opening of Redrock's library, it brought an influx of visitors from everywhere. With that much people congregating in a certain place, business of course tends to boom. Inns are built, the demand for food quadrupled alongside with entertainment, more guards are recruited, local merchandise from merchants keeps the cash flowing. With all this, taxes tends to also rise bringing prosperity to the fief making the former minor fief of Redrock a large and important one with men at arms and levies under their belt. Of course Lord Smelther now lives in luxury with his wife and kids ever loyal the Knightess of Arendelle.

On the other hand Silvanna does not miss the chance of pushing her own business expansion to new heights during this trip. Arendelle is a rich country with untapped resources. Add the fact that she came from a future of a world with progress on its belt allows her to see opportunities where others don't.

Like currently what she is doing trying to convince the rather stubborn Master Miner that her venture is not a waste of time.

"I'm telling you Master Skelg that what I am saying is true," insists Silvanna to the old frowning man who looks none too pleased at her urging. "This is a venture that not one of us will regret. Besides, it's not as if you're not getting paid,"

"With all due respect my lady this is a waste of time and money. I've been a miner since I am small and I'm telling you that this venture of yours is foolhardy and a waste of time, money and effort," says the miner making Silvanna smack her palm at her face.

Her point is actually simple. Arendelle is a mountainous country with very few plains and a lot of wild areas. That is the reason why the majority of Arendelle's supply comes from trade with the other kingdoms. Of course with her coming she made Arendelle more self-sufficient removing the demand from food, and other basic supplies that are needed by a person's day to day basis. Now she is focusing on making Arendelle self-sufficient on the crafts department; metal, Iron ore, gold, silver, diamond, copper and other minerals that a craftsman might need to make their wares. For the life of her she does not understand why generations of Arendellian monarchs did not see what she's seeing. Arendelle is full of MOUNTAINS. Where mountains are, minerals are also present. Even a quarry could be possible. Goodness only knows that it is high time for them to start replacing the wooden houses to more stable ones. Unfortunately this miner disagrees before even seeing the wisdom in her idea.

"I will make myself absolutely clear Master Skelg. I am making this venture come true whether you're on board or not. You are not the only option I have. The only reason I even asked all of you first is because I want Arendelle's miners to be the one to benefit from this and not foreign ones that I might hire. So you've got a choice here Master Skelg. Either you agree with me and get paid or you go on your merry way and I hire somebody else who would not question my orders,"

"Fine, fine! I agree with you on this. But I'm telling you that this is a worthless venture," grumbles the old man signing the paperwork in front of him, writing down the words as if wanting to bore a hole in the paper.

"There it's done!" he grumbles unhappily pushing the paper at Silvanna who grabs the sheet, her sky blue eyes scanning the signature below.

"Pleasure doing business with you Master Skelg. My supervisors will see your miners in a week's time here at Redrock,"

"Long life and health to you my lady," bows the man at the waist before leaving Silvanna and Baron Smelter alone at the study.

"Well that could have gone better," chuckles the young baron. "For what it's worth though my lady, I agree with Master Skelg. Finding gems at Arendelle had never been done before,"

"For someone as intellectual as you Baron, I thought you would understand," Silvanna simply smirks taking the wineglass at the table and taking a generous sip of its contents before looking back at the young man. "Just because you can't see it doesn't mean that it's not there. Even if we don't find the gems and minerals that I desire Baron Skelg, we could at least find iron ore which I might say is invaluable for everyone in our rising times. And worse comes to worst and we don't find even that, we could start quarries on the mountains bringing down rock, marble that could be traded or used ourselves. This venture also will unite the kingdom in a way. Once the quarries and mines are completed, a highway between here and the mountains would be built bringing in the demand for more patrols, more jobs and the need of stone. Transport would also be required and that means carriages, horses that could be rented and oxen to pull and transport goods. Supplies would be once more in demand and business thus would be booming,"

Judging from the blinking eyes of the young man, he certainly does not expect that. "It would also connect us to the Nords who had been given the Northern territory by our dearest Crown Princess. Their isolation is not good and the more supplies the local Arendellian folk can trade with them, the better,"

"Won't they be angry though that you are planning to build mines on their territory without their permission my lady?" asks Smelter.

"Nords respect strength and courage above all. I am in good terms with their leader, Jarl Bjorn. Princess Elsa is respected by his son and heir, Bard. They understand that what I do affects Arendelle, making it better than before,"

"And it doesn't hurt that your personal company also earns a lot by being the one to finance this venture my lady," points out Smelter.

"I am a businesswoman at heart other than a warrior Baron Smelter. Money is power and it greases a lot of things. One can never have enough. The more you have, the greater the possibilities that you could handle and the more you can change the world," Silvanna simply says swirling the wine on her glass.

"For the good of Arendelle my lady," Smelter says raising his glass.

The Knightess simply smirks as she raises her own glass clinking it with his. "For the good of Arendelle,"

…..

Elsa smiles as she looks up at the opening door. While Silvanna did her "Stewardly" duties, Elsa relaxes a bit on this trip. In fact if she's going to be honest with herself, this feels more like a vacation with Silvanna taking care of everything. This is Elsa's first time seeing the kingdom after all. Her trip to get rid of the source of the plague does not count, no. That's more like a nightmare that she fervently wants to forget.

Speaking of which, she smiles as she takes note of the different sketches littering her table. Silvanna had changed the entirety of Arendelle for the better. She remembers her father telling her about the different villages and towns under her domain. Back then the lessons include them as nothing more than small homesteads where people group together to survive. Now the smallest of Arendelle's villages are no larger than small towns and the people are happy, too happy in fact in Elsa's opinion.

"Hey," Silvanna's voice makes Elsa turn at the Knightess who enters the room. By instinct, her eyes turn towards the exposed graceful leg flitting out of the slit of her dress.

"My, my I believe you're happier seeing my legs and not me Elsa," teases Silvanna making Elsa blush at her words.

"Prat," she simply replies making Silvanna grin as she joins Elsa on the large couch leaning her back on her.

Elsa sighs happily at the bare skin of Silvanna through her backless dress rubbing on her arm. "So how did the meeting go?" she asks.

"Tiring and irritating. You would think that being the Steward of Arendelle would make people obey me without question, but nooooo. They have to poke and prod every detail before attempting to say no," complains the Knightess flapping her arms childishly.

Elsa giggles at her antics. Silvanna might be a well-renowned figure throughout the land but behind closed doors, she is just Silvanna, a young woman at her prime who can be a bit clumsy when overreacting. Elsa is glad that she is the only one privileged enough to see this part of the Knightess.

"But he agreed right?" asks Elsa focusing her attention at the conversation and not the rather delicious looking bare skin of her friend and love interest at the back.

Silvanna only scowls at her words before flopping her head at Elsa's lap laying there looking up at her. "Not after I had to threaten him by wanting to hire other workers from abroad. He is more than happy then to cave in to my request,"

"Well," Elsa begins, letting her hand rub the scalp of the Knightess who purrs at her ministration. "I'm not an expert on this Silvanna but I can tell enough that this venture will cost money, and a lot of it. I've read your notes about this. The supplies alone being ordered from outside cost a tremendous amount and that's not accounting the payment for the men for their job. All this with only a promise of a possibility of success makes even me hesitate Silvie,"

Elsa eeps as Silvanna springs like a board leaning into her that their faces are only inches apart. She blushes at the fair face raising an eyebrow questioningly at her that she can see every detail of the Knightess' beautiful face.

"Are you doubting this venture of mine Elsa?" asks Silvanna.

"No, of course not Silvie," Elsa denies, rapidly shaking her head. It's the truth; Elsa really believes that Silvanna can do great things. She is the epitome of perfectness in her eyes (if she's going to be honest with herself though, part of her does not want to disagree in fear that Silvanna might leave her). "I'm just a little concerned that's all,"

Elsa holds her breathe as Silvanna does not react to her words. For a second or so she fears that the Knightess might be angry at her until Silvanna's face beams into a smile. Leaning forward, Elsa's eyes widen as she kisses her lips softly before leaning back.

"You are really adorable Elsa," she licks her lips sensuously before lying down once more on Elsa's lap.

Blinking at the Knightess who grabs Elsa's hand and puts it on her scalp, Elsa shakes her head mentally. Silvanna still manages to make her mind black out with her kisses. Not that Elsa is complaining of course.

"My company, Lance Trading would be fronting the venture. The company after all got the lion's share of the spoils of Nogrod after the war due to Lance Trading being the one who financed majority of it after all," says Silvanna.

"Hmm," Elsa humms in agreement remembering the protest of many nobles as to why the company gets the large share of the money looted from the war instead of them. "Even then though will it be enough Silvie?" asks Elsa.

"Depends," Silvanan simply shrugs. "Most likely the company will be hurt money-wise on this endeavour especially due to the fact that returns for this would take a while. That is why I have a backup plan of my own for the company to have another source of income other than my businesses Elsa,"

She pulls a letter from her brassiere making Elsa raise an eyebrow at her smirking face. "Did you really hide a letter in your breasts Silvie?"

Silvanna pouts at her reaction. "I thought you'd find it hot. And besides, I have nowhere to hide it. That is the reason why I don't like to wear dresses in the first place. I miss my original attire before-," It is as if a dark cloud hovers over the Knightess' face and it is only for a few seconds but Elsa does not miss the scrunching of her brows nor the tightening of her face. It is her eyes though that makes Elsa worry for her. The usual confident and joyful sky blue eyes of Silvanna are full of terror and fear as if relieving a dream. She remains silent after that simply staring at the wall.

"Let me see that," Elsa leans, pulling the letter from Silvanna's face changing the subject. To her relief the shadow on Silvanna's face disappears like it's never there bringing back the light of the one she loves.

The last thing she knows that she needs right now is mention it to Silvanna. Being pushy will get her nowhere and the last thing she wants is pushing the Knightess into doing something she does not want to do. Silvanna is the strongest woman that Elsa knows, she knows that the Knightess will tell her when the time is right and she is ready. All Elsa can do for her is to simply be there like Silvanna was when Elsa got over her horror during the Debacle before.

"Seawater? You ordered barrels of seawater?" Elsa blinks confused at the contents of the letter. It contains the seal of the Steward of Arendelle to the mayor of Rosa. The command is to simply clear a dozen of fields, fill them with cement, blocking them at the sides and pour the seawater at them.

"Yep," answers Silvanna elongating the "P". "This would be Lance Trading's next source of income and one that would be ingenious, other than the mines of course that I hope would be spouting dividends soon,"

"Silvie, please explain this to me for I don't understand half the things that goes under that brain of yours," Elsa sighs feeling exasperated at Silvanna's bad habit of vagueness when it comes to her ideas.

"Oh alright, tell me Elsa, other than gold, silver, spices and steel, what is another commodity that is great in demand among the kingdoms?" asks Silvanna down facing upward from Elsa's lap.

"Easy, salt," answers Elsa remembering the rather high order and price when it comes to the product.

Salt after all is extremely useful other than spices and ice in preserving food. It is a chef's demand also when it comes to making food. Most monarchs and nobles find it unacceptable after all for their food to be rather bland. Unfortunately, the only kingdoms that manage to produce and trade salt are the ones at the coastline and not all of them are willing to sell it. Thus salt is hard to get and rather precious that it is bought at the weight of gold.

"Why are you asking about salt anyway-….Oh my god, don't tell me that you've found out a way how to produce salt Silvie?" asks Elsa gasping. She nearly stands in surprise if not remembering for the last second that Silvanna is at her lap.

"If I say yes, would you be impressed?" the Knightess simply smirks at her making Elsa shake her head in disbelief.

"I think that if I would be impressed any more, then you would be giving a heart attack on my age Silvie,"

"Please don't, I quite enjoy my pillow so stay as you are Elsa," murmurs Silvanna pressing her face on Elsa's navel. The Crown princess does not miss that Silvanna's hands wander to her shapely hips.

"So, other than this endeavour of yours, I believe that we also need to talk about this tourney of yours," points out Elsa. "I've read the reports from the designers and from Lords Johnson and Spinach Silvie. Does it have to be that grand? I mean your major events are jousting, horse and chariot racing, melees of every kind, and that does not include theatre, dancing, acting, drama and a dozen others. Not included are the smaller events of every kind. Where are we supposed to even hold that number of events?"

"For your first question Elsa, yes it must be that grand," answers Silvanna in a whisper at her lap whose hands are now rubbing her hips and putting a squeeze here and there on the soft flesh. "Arendelle just won a war against a major nation that threatens nearly everyone in this part of the world. It is the perfect time to show our station as a player in the big table and a part of the centre stage. Many would be curious about us and how strong Arendelle is. They will come and bring the best of their guards and knights to test their mettle against ours. Doing this also shows that we have the money to spare and Arendelle is not simply a pushover nation. With this we can attract new trading partners and create new alliances opening even many doors for us. The increase of taxes of course won't be bad. The more visitors we have, the more money pours in,"

"And about my second question of where to hold this event Silvie?" asks Elsa raising an eyebrow as she rakes her fingers on Silvanna's blonde hair.

The Knightess simply smirks at her surprising Elsa as she sits up and pushes her down on the couch with her up top looking down. Immediately Elsa blushes at the rather wanting gaze that her friend is pinning her with.

"You ask too many questions Elsa," she purrs leaning down placing a chaste kiss on Elsa's lips before pulling back. "But let's just say that our setting would leave them a lasting expression of Arendelle and its culture,"

"And when is this tourney scheduled Silvie?" asks Elsa. She giggles softly as the Knightess rolls her eyes muttering something that sounds suspiciously like: "Asking too many damned questions"

"In a month's time from now," she answers before lying down atop Elsa that their bodies are flat with one another. Elsa blushes hard as she can feel the Knightess' chest pressed snugly with hers. Elsa is still growing but Silvanna is well-endowed in that department.

"You're so cute when you're all hot and flustered," purrs Silvanna atop her leaning down making Elsa gasp as she feels the Knightess' tongue lick the soft part of her ear. "So no more questions and help me relax Elsa,"

Elsa is more than happy to acquiesce to her command, as she flips their positions and wastes no more time smashing her lips to that of the graceful woman. Oh, and did she mention that Silvanna's legs are extremely soft despite their look of firmness?

….

Rome, Capital of the Roman Empire

On the bustling cities of Rome, the Emperor, Hadrian Caesar, thirteenth Emperor of Rome taps his fingers at his throne as he reads the letter of invitation that he is holding. To say that he is interested would be an understatement. That small nation of Arendelle managed to beat off the pesky barbarians in a straight up battle. To say that he is impressed would be an understatement. He is Roman after all and could appreciate the thrill of a frontal battle. His predecessors before him had once sent the third and fourth legions against Nogrod to pacify the country resulting to much loss of Roman lives with nothing to show for it. It could be called a disaster in fact if he's going to be honest with himself more. To hear the small city state beating the forces of Nogrod is more than enough to gain his interest, and in turn Rome's.

"Caius," Caesar calls out to his aide. "Prepare the envoys and a retinue. We are going to attend a tourney at Arendelle,"

….

Greece, Athens

"Hmm, interesting," Perikles, leader of Athens reads the letter of invitation.

This Arendelle is something that he has not heard of yet and seems to be an interesting nation despite its size. Nogrod had no contact with the Greeks, but word of their infamous raids and damage to the kingdoms west of the sea had been heard even in this part of the world. Perikles reads the letter again. It would not hurt to take some time off and take a look into this nation. Maybe he should invite King Archimados and Pausanias of Sparta to tag along. Gods only know that those two could never resist a good fight.

…..

England, London

King George(Pirates of the Carribean inspired) laughs, his massive bulk heaving into his throne. None of the nobles or advisers dare say a warning that any more movement and the chair would break under the overweight man. The King might be fat and flabby but none of them could deny the power of his mind. It is through him that England dominates the seas of the Carribean with their ships holding the most important trade routes.

It had been a regular day of court for them watching as the King receives visitors and missives that need his attention. He had been reading letter after letting before pausing on one particular one. Everyone had been interested as the bored king looks interested before bursting out laughing.

"Prepare my ship!" the fat king commands without warning. "Bring also our finest wine and spices as gifts alongside the best of our knights to come with me. We are sailing to the Kingdom of Arendelle,"

…..

Spain, Madrid

The sound of heavy footsteps echo along the dark hall; the guards try to stop the marchers but the man simply shoves them off of him before bursting through the door. Another man dressed simply with a shirt looks up from his study looking at the armed man who bowed at him before handing over a letter to his hand.

The other man simply sighs as he takes the letter before opening it. His weariness though vanished as he reads the letter. Nogrod had for the first time been defeated in an open battle. Spain had made many expeditions to get a foothold on the desert nation with no success. To see that they had been humbled was indeed news. His eyes though blink at the seal at the top of the letter.

"Captain, how soon can you set sail?" asks the man.

"If need be King Ferdinand, with the tide," answers the other man.

"Very well, we set sail tomorrow for Arendelle, five ships and a full crew and guards,"

…..

Author's Note:

So that's that. Hope ya like this chapter people. I really enjoyed writing this one. If you have any questions or such feel free to review and Ill answer.