Chapter Forty-Six
"Some souls are connected by an ancient calling beyond worlds"
…
"Now presenting to you, your winners!" Elsa's voice rings clear on the afternoon sun as the entire Colliseum erupts in cheers as the different champions of the events are crowned and given their prizes, golden statues of representation of the events they have participated in.
"Champions, please stand on the podiums and stand and be recognized," she gestures to the raised positions which the winners of the Tourney excitedly get into as they stand in recognition to the thirty thousand or so people of the Tourney.
Behind them Elsa keeps the smile plastered to her face though for the life of her she has no idea why people enjoy such violence. If she will be the queen, she can't imagine herself agreeing to any of this. In fact now that she mentions it, she doesn't remember her father doing anything even before. Of course seeing that she had him for only a few years before his demise, that excused him a bit.
As it is she just go with the flow for now. This is one of Silvanna's brilliant plans after all and Elsa trusts the Knightess with her entire heart without question. Plus for those in the know-how, it is already showing how much promise this endeavour is starting to show in a lot of ways.
Tourneys cost a lot of money; that is a fact that all rulers and monarchs know. The greater the tourney, the higher the cost for the hosting nation. The place, the arrangements, the messengers, the merchants that need to be bribed to set up their stalls, the setting of the tourney, the organizers and such, the prize are all fielded by the host with little to nothing to show for it other than the possibility of creating alliances from those attending. Of course that being said, it is not really a promise seeing that attending nations would not make the trouble of attending said event unless they can gain anything from it. With all these issues though, Elsa now see how much Silvanna circumnavigated such problems and turned them from the liabilities they are into assets.
The issue of a place for the event is answered by the war against Nogrod. In any other tourney, the setting of such an event would be nothing more than raised wooden platforms on a muddy or grassy field. With the victory against Nogrod though and Arendelle's recent progress in revenue; Silvanna not only had the funds to construct the Colliseum but more than enough that Elsa had managed to pilfer some of it to create Silvanna's statue.
Ironically this also solved the attraction part for the great nations to attend the tourney and the rest follows. The country of course wholeheartedly supported the event. It was after all a dedication for Arendelle's fallen and even those who had lost family members were mostly accepting seeing the honour heaped to their kin. Most "men-at-arms" who died in battle after all would be lucky if they get even mentioned by their liege lords. Silvanna however changed all that. Thus what she got is a boatload of volunteers willing to help out and a lot of attendees that even the Colliseum had no room for it. With so much attendance, merchants, traders and troubadours came in droves making the tax skyrocket. That's not counting of course the "entrance fee" the participants would pay in order to take part of the tourney.
Normally such participation needed no fee and many would rather not take part than pay such money. However with the established board of champions where the tourney victor's names would be etched, many are attracted at such a novel with the opportunity of their names being immortalized. Plus there's also the small fact that everyone's rivals are also present at the tourney and most monarchs would rather chew hardtack than allow such weakness like "money issues" for their rivals to see.
Apparently creating a man made wonder of epic proportions was more than enough to pique everyone's festive mood. There's also the status of hers and Silvanna as bachelorettes also playing a large factor for everyone to come visit. While most of the bachelors rather steered clear of her due to her "ice cold persona" and the fact that she's surrounded by guards always that glare at any attempting to come near her; Silvanna had not that luxury much to Elsa's chagrin. The Knightess after all is very beautiful and smiles a lot while greeting everyone politely. Elsa had lost count of the many times she wished to froze the well-wishers and princes attempting to politely ask to woo the Knightess without being too forward.
As far as Elsa's concerned; Silvanna is hers.
Speaking of which, Elsa watches the seneschal of Arendelle bid the attending nations thanks and farewell for their participation as the tourney ends. She smiles as the night is illuminated without warning by a large explosion of fireworks making the audience gape in astonishment and wonder at the flashing lights above them. They are a thank you present from the Emperor of Yi Ti for the defeat of their rogue prince at the War of Nogrod. Silvanna had deemed that they be used for the event now.
Speaking of which Elsa wishes that Silvanna is with her as she watches the beautiful display of lights in the sky. She winces as she remembers the reason as to why Silvanna misses the end of the tourney she hosted. For some insane reason, her little sister got pregnant with her guard and teacher no less. Elsa can't even fathom as to how such relationship worked in the first place. She never, not even once looked at her guards that way (Seeing that she liked girls, that is of course excusable). How in the world did Anna let herself go so careless?
She sighs as she rubs the middle of her nose with her fingers. If there's one thing she is sure of, it is the fact that Silvanna would be very pissed at the second prince of Arendelle.
…..
"Anna I know you are impulsive, but I never knew that you would be this impulsive that you would risk not only the status of Arendelle but also its future,"
Anna cringes as she stares upward at the tall form of Silvanna feeling very small at the chair she is sitting in. This is nothing like the previous dress down scoldings that Silvanna gave her when she did something stupid, no. The Knightess is pissed and Anna for the first time is extremely nervous around her. It feels as if her mother's talking down on her. Of course Anna would not simply try to roll over. She is stubborn like that.
"I-it's Princess Anna just in case you forget-," she begins to say only to be cut short.
"YOU DO NOT EVEN HAVE THE RIGHT TO CALL YOURSELF BY THAT TITLE ANYMORE LITTLE GIRL!" Silvanna yells at her making Anna flinch hard as she tries to make herself as small as possible at her chair. Never, not even once had she been the subject of Silvanna's ire.
"YOU ARE IRRESPONSIBLE WITH LITTLE CARE FOR NO BUT YOURSELF!" she continues.
"It is an accident," Anna tries weakly to reason out.
"I DON'T CARE! YOU ARE A PRINCESS AND THAT TITLE MEANS SOMETHING! EVERY MOVE YOU MAKE, EVERY DECISION YOU DO REFLECTS NOT ONLY ON YOU BUT ON ME AND EVERY ARENDELLIAN ON THIS CITY. YOU ARE THE SECOND TO THE THRONE NEXT TO YOUR SISTER. DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT THAT MEANS?!"
"N-no," Anna answers softly.
"OF COURSE YOU DON'T! YOU KNOW WHY? BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT READY FOR YOUR POSITION! YOU'RE NOT WORTHY OF YOUR INHERITANCE! YOU'RE NOT WORTHY OF YOUR TITLE! YOU'RE NOT WORTHY!" her shouting makes Anna want to melt to the ground in a puddle and disappear as Silvanna glowers at her.
She watches as the Knightess gives off a small sigh as she regains control of her own emotions. "Given the circumstance of your….accident and the Grand Tourney; the royal court and advisers of Arendelle had convened a special tribunal which I was not present to discuss what was to be done with your current situation,"
"And…?" Anna gulps questioningly fearing what the leading leaders of the nation had decided.
Silvanna only stares at her hard with a steel glint on her eyes. "Basing on Arendelle law, you can't be deposed of your current situation, especially with no official monarch sitting on the throne. However until further notice, your freedom is revoked Princess Anna. From now till the day that you give birth to your son, you will not leave Arendelle castle and be educated fully of your responsibilities not only as a princess but also with the possibility that YOU would be the heir of the Arendellian throne in the worst case scenario that heavens forbid, your sister dies,"
The silence that follows is almost loud as Anna realizes that she's basically returning to her current condition being trapped on the castle before. Of course she doesn't like it. Anna loves running around Arendelle. To be imprisoned and her liberty taken away; it is a punishment that hits hard. Plus the fact that she needs to stand in attention to all of those boring lectures of royalty. The pragmatic part of Anna knows that in terms of her actions, this is in fact a very lenient sentence. They could have stripped her of her title or worse.
"D-does Elsa know about me, my current situation?" she finally asks as Silvanna heads to the door before pausing giving off a tired sigh.
"Yes, and this is something that we both need to discuss Anna, good day," she finishes before heading out leaving Anna alone in her room and feeling even more lonely than before.
…
There are many things that Alucard had managed in his so far short but adventurous life. To be a bounty hunter after all means a lot of traveling. Unfortunately said experiences did not count being trussed by his ankles with chains and clad only in his underwear while bound like a stuck pig in the air.
"So Mister Alucard, Sergeant of the Winged Hussars, I had thought that the little charade between you and Anna would be the last time that I would be disciplining for you misconduct," Alucard gulps as the form of Silvanna appears on the shadows of the archway in front of him. Beside her walking is Lord Viktor of the Mines and Prime Minister Jonathan Johnson. His heart sank as he notices the look of disgust on their faces.
"However apparently it seems that you simply did not bring a princess to a warzone which can result to a grave sentence as it is, no…no. It seems that you took it to another level by sleeping with the same princess,"
"For the record we were drunk," blurts out Alucard in an effort to protest his innocence. "It is an accident!"
"Really? Of course it is an accident. The two of you alone and an opportunity to get your hackles at the princess of a nation that I might say have no present heir. Too good of an opportunity to simply miss out the chance to being part of royalty right?"
"It is an accident, we were….celebrating from the war," repeats Alucard disheartened as he watches Silvanna slowly unwinds the ropes connected at his feet. He's got a feeling that he will be very cold soon.
"Sergeant," the snappy tone of Silvanna reminds Alucard of the position that Silvanna is keeping warm for the Crown Princess. "For the crimes of not only putting royalty at risk but also sleeping with said royalty; I declare your sentence to experience the fear of incoming death,"
Before Alucard could utter another word, he can't help the girlish scream that leaves his mouth as the rope holding at his ankles slacks and he fell straight toward the dark waters down below. His pitch only intensifies as out of the waters appear the green maws of crocodiles awaiting to receive him.
….
"I can't believe that my younger sister is pregnant," Elsa thinks to herself as she sits at hers and Silvanna's shared bed with Kaldita sleeping beside her.
The little munchkin had been particularly clingy to her and won't go to sleep at her own crib. Apparently she does not appreciate being neglected by her "parents" for so long. Silvanna and Elsa after all had entrusted her to Gerda while they handled the rigors and demands of the tourney. Kaldita in her current age apparently is starting to develop bonds and it chose her and Silvanna.
"Very clingy like your previous life little one," Elsa thinks to herself as she tucks Kaldita more securely inside her blankets at Elsa's side. Brushing the tuft of blue hair atop her head, Elsa lets her hand ran over it smoothly humming a small lullaby as she kisses the youngling's forehead.
She can't help but think about the future. Nine months from now her sister would be having of her own like she does with Kaldita. It seems surreal, the realization that another soul would be added to their small family. It almost seems like a dream for her actually, the fact that their family would be growing. The death of her parents after all hit everyone hard, her particularly. The arrival of Silvanna and Kaldita in her life healed her of that scar in life. However as much as she loves them with all her heart, Elsa can't help but think that the two of them are not part of her original family from Arendelle. This baby though, this baby that Anna would be bringing to the world will be her blood fully. Frankly, Elsa does not know how to react to that.
"Have I ever told you that you would make a good mother?" the amused voice of Silvanna brings Elsa out of her musings.
She can't help the small smile form upon her lips as she tilts her body sideward to look at the Knightess standing at the door. The familiar flutter in her chest appears as her eyes drink in the form of Silvanna wearing only a blue t-shirt and her underwear walking barefoot towards their shared bed. She sighs in contentment as the one she loves slid to her space behind her. It does not take long to feel the familiar strong but slender arms of the Knightess encircle her hips pulling her body to the warmth of hers.
"So, how did everything go?" asks Elsa still with her back to Silvanna as she continues stroking Kaldita's hair.
"As good as it can be when dealing with Anna," answers Silvanna with a sigh behind her. "She cried a lot and gave me a lot of pouting and those pleading eyes of hers. She however acquiesced to her punishment without much hassle. It's not surprising since the punishment is not that harsh either,"
Making sure that Kaldita is indeed sleeping now, Elsa turns to face the resting form of Silvanna who pops an eye open as their faces meet one another.
"It is quite surreal to know that we would have another royal soon. This time a legitimate heir of Arendelle from our line," says Elsa voicing out her thoughts from before.
"Perhaps,"
Her blue eyes narrow at Silvanna's answer. "What do you mean….perhaps?" she asks, her tone ending a bit in a hiss. The very thought of the possibility of losing another part of her family is an anathema to her,
"It all depends on the high lords and barons of Arendelle Elsa," answers Silvanna coking an eye open at her. "This child after all is the result of a union not blessed by marriage. By that reason alone, the church won't support such ascension to the throne. You know more than anyone how bastards are viewed by the nobility my dear Elsa. It is hard enough for them to gain a lordship, much more a kingdom,"
"But….you can do something about that can't you Silvie?" Elsa can't help but ask, not bothering to hide the concern in her voice any longer about the future of Anna's child.
This time Silvanna ignores all pretense of sleeping as she rests her head on her hand with her shoulder supporting it giving Elsa a clear cut view of her cleavage through her shirt. Even with her hair down and not in uniform, Silvanna looks gorgeous.
"Of course I do, haven't you learned yet that I always have a plan Elsa?" says the Knightess, her words tinged with mirth.
"I'm just worried for my family,"
"I know and that's what makes you beautiful in the inside my dear," she replies leaning down to kiss Elsa's brow. "Now enough of the worries, I am tired from all this ruling stuff and tonight I just want to rest with the family I have,"
Elsa simply "hmm'd" as she faces once more away from Silvanna in order to caress Kaldita's little body to hers, the small tike yawning as her chubby baby fingers clutches Elsa's hair. She smiles contently as the arms of Silvanna do not waste time to encircle her hips though pulling her closer to her. In a few minutes, the steady but cool breathe of the Knightess tickles the skin at her neck indicating that the beautiful woman has finally fallen asleep.
Once more Elsa thanks her lucky stars for the presence of Silvanna at her life. In her opinion, it is more than she deserves, a princess who abandoned her people in their greatest time of need due to her grief and fear about the death of her parents. Elsa lost her family that day, her parents in their demise and her sister in her fear. However with the coming of Silvanna she gained new ones, a person she can love, people she can trust, and a daughter she can care for.
With that happy thought, Elsa lets herself drift off to Hypnos' realm.
….
Somewhere south of Arendelle three cloaked figures approach a gilded throne with red and black highlights, the sigil of ten isles etched on it. The guards raise their spears in respect as the three bow at their knees to the large man sitting on the gilded throne.
"Did you have the information that I ordered you to bring?" his dark eyes stare down hard at the three figures below him.
"Yes father, we have," answers the one with the middle "It is not an easy task wrangling the sources from the Guild about the Black Badgers but we managed to,"
"And the evidence of your handiwork?"
"All cleared with no one the wiser," answers the one with the left. "My sources had made sure that the Guild never get wind that they had been infiltrated,"
"Good, good. And I might imply since you are here far off from record time expected of you that you managed to acquire the information that we need?"
"Yes father, we do. We managed to find the camp of the attacking assassins at Arendelle and acquired the information that you asked of us,"
"Good, good my sons. You all have done well. Give the information to our spy master. He will handle the rest," the man at the throne ordered waving a bejewelled hand off to dismiss the three.
"What's the point of all this?" a rather whiny tone suddenly interjects making the king stare at the middle figure of the three. "What's all this subterfuge for? We could have just taken what we wanted by force. Isn't that our way?" The silence that follows is deafening and even the guards who stood nearby stand ramrod straight and still as statues as if expecting a sudden storm.
"Brother shut your mouth!" hisses the figure at the left, his voice laced with worry and fear but he goes silent as the king raises a hand.
"Hans, my youngest, ever the doubter, ever the one who questions," he chuckles, his deep voice reverberating on the hall. "You're right that ever since time immemorial, our culture had been a straightforward approach when dealing with our enemies. However all things evolve, and so must we to if we wish to progress.
He stands raising a hand as a large map of the region is showed. A finger wearing an ornate ring is pointed at Arendelle. "Under the rule of the Arens, Arendelle is nothing more than a small nation selling ice. Not a threat at all and easy to conquer. However under the rule of Silvanna Highwind, the current steward, it is another nation entirely. As it is, it cannot be taken lightly. It has powerful connections, powerful allies and it is extremely rich. Not to mention a capable army. So my dear youngest son; if we try to invade them as they are right now, even if we win, it would be at great cost to us. So we fall back to the basic rule of how to destroy a nation,"
"And how's that?" asks the one named Hans.
The king only smiles fingering the pendant of the church at his chest. "We let them dismantle themselves from the inside"
…..
Author's Note:
Hullo, sorry for the long wait. Been busy with life. Anyway hope ya like this chapter. This is basically a prelude to the end Arc. Thanks.