Chapter Forty-Nine
"Some souls are connected by an ancient calling beyond worlds"
…
It is the sweet singing of birds that wakes Silvanna from her slumber. A satisfied sigh leaves her lips as she ignores the call of the dawn. Why should she make any effort of waking up after all when she is feeling perfect right now? The chill air of the summer snow of Arendelle seeps in through the opening window becoming warm thanks to the lamps giving the room a cool and comfortable feeling.
Not that Silvanna's companion is affected by the cold whatsoever.
"You're awake," Elsa's gentle voice sounds behind her making Silvanna give off a small snort as she happily ignores her lover whose hands are encircling her bare midriff making Silvanna's skin tingle.
"Silvieeee," her lover now purrs making Silvanna yelp as without warning her ear is nipped by teeth behind her.
"I'm awake, I'm awake," the Knightess now surrenders as she turns herself to meet the face of a smug looking Elsa.
Silvanna mentally drinks in the beauty of her lover. Only Elsa can pull off looking regal and beautiful even in the first eaves of the morning. Morning hair apparently doesn't occur to Elsa seeing that her blonde tresses are smooth as ever. At bed is one of the few occasions that Elsa's hair is let down and not in her usual French braid. Silvanna is one of the few that witnesses it as such.
"You're evil," she growls earning her an innocent stare from the Crown Princess whose hands Silvanna noticed have gone past her hips to her shapely behind.
"I had no idea what you are implying Silvie,"
Her eyes roll at the playful mood that Elsa is in, Silvanna only leans forward catching her lips with her own making her taste mint immediately. Of course it does not take long for the kiss to grow heated and hands are soon roaming over their naked forms each unable to take enough of another. A gentle poke on her lips and Elsa acquiesces entry as their tongues meet.
Whatever inhibitions and sleepiness the two of them are feeling now wears off completely as Elsa growls before pushing Silvanna flat on her back and lying atop her their lips meeting again. Silvanna flushes at their bodies so close but welcomes it at the same time as she grips Elsa's shapely hips with both hands. One thing leads to another and nature takes its course. Half an hour late and both of them are lying atop one another panting from pleasure.
"Y-y-you are insatiable Elsa," SIlvanna groans as her entire body feels sore; especially her breasts and her ass. Apparently the Crown Princess of Arendelle finds a fascination on either part of her anatomy in the same way that Silvanna is fascinated with Elsa's hips and rear.
"Are you complaining Silvie?" Elsa asks mischievously lying beside her curled like an overlarge kitten hugging Silvanna's graceful but strong form to her own slender ones.
Silvanna only smiles planting a chaste kiss on the lips of the one she loves. "Not in a thousand years Elsa,"
Part of Silvanna is still wondering how lucky she is that she managed to bag such an amazing person. Their lovemaking is beautiful and passionate like two forms finally fitting one another. Say what you will about Elsa but the young crown princess of Arendelle is beautiful as she is graceful. Every movement is seamless and full of care. The way Elsa holds her makes Silvanna feel as if she's the most precious thing for the Crown Princess on earth (Which she is in Elsa's mind). In all ways Elsa makes Silvanna feel loved fully.
"Hmmm, poetry,"
"Please don't,"
"The beds are warm,
Silvanna is full of hickies,
She loves me so,"
"That's so horrible," Silvanna makes an exasperated groan making Elsa giggle as she nests herself deeper at the Knightess' side inhaling her scent as the two of them drifts into silence.
"I'm so glad that you're the one I loved Silvie,"
"Elsa-,"
"More than you know," cuts off the blonde haired beauty still with her eyes closed and her head at Silvanna's crook of the neck. "You are the strength of my heart and my light Silvie, promise me that you will always be there for me,"
Silvanna only sighs as she hears the old worried tone that Elsa had before. Apparently not even time can cure the princess of her worry for being alone once again. "I promise Elsa. You're not really alone however. You have everyone in Arendelle, not just me,"
"They're not you," points out Elsa looking up at Silvanna her baby blue eyes shimmering with beauty.
"Yes, they're not me," Silvanna nods. "They are still there for you though Elsa and it would be your responsibility soon as queen to care for them as they will protect you,"
To Silvanna's surprise though Elsa averts her head away as if coming into indecision. She's been around Elsa long enough to know the blonde's mannerisms. Elsa always answers directly and only hesitates when she's bothered by something extremely.
"Elsa? Is there something I needed to know?" Silvanna asks. Last time Elsa made a hesitant answer, it had been when she commandeered the entire delivery of chocolate into Arendelle castle without telling anyone causing a lot of confused shoppers to wonder where the hell did their order go? Also before that is the giant statue of herself at the Colliseum (which until now Silvanna still has no idea how Elsa managed to pull off.
So yeah, there's a legitimate reason for Silvanna to be concerned. The money lost during those debacles and the sleepless nights she has to devote into to keep things back in track is staggering.
"N-nothing," murmurs the Crown Princess making Silvanna lean on her shoulder to look at her eyes who seems to find the bedsheet very interesting.
"Elsa,"
"Alright, alright," her voice sounds defeated as she slaps Silvanna's hip with her hand. She watches as Elsa takes a deep breathe before saying in an extremely small voice that Silvanna might have missed if not for the magic inside her enhancing her senses. In this case; her hearing.
"I don't want to be queen,"
"What?" Silvanna blinks not sure even then that she heard her right.
"I don't want to be queen,"
The silence that follows is so loud as Silvanna lies there speechless with her face looking at Elsa gobsmacked. For the life of her she never expected this. She has laboured hard and long for Elsa to finally reach the throne of Arendelle and take her position rightly as her queen. This is the reason why after Silvanna had worked so hard all these years; to finally prepare the way for Elsa and establish her kingdom strong and firm with her leading it. It will be the main deterrent after all for any bigoted nation that might come after her once the truth about her power comes out. No secret after all lasts forever.
Still right now, all Silvanna can do is stare at Elsa quite gobsmacked and heavily confused.
"I'm sorry if I disappointed you Silvie," whispers Elsa pressing her head to Silvanna's chest making the Knightess instantly wrap her arms around the pale slender body of her lover as she rests her chin on Elsa's head. Silvanna's heart hurt feeling Elsa shiver at her arms. She doesn't like seeing her this way at all. Still, she needs answers.
"Can you at least tell me why Elsa?" Silvanna asks as she caresses Elsa's blonde locks curling her taller graceful body around Elsa's form.
"Because you're better Silvie," Elsa answers still with that small voice. "I am not worthy of Arendelle, I cannot be you Silvie. Even while I'm the Crown Princess, the people only looks at me with unknown eyes. For them you are the ruler of Arendelle Silvie and they are right. You brought this country out from its small corner in the world. You led the people against an enemy that even the Seven Seas Alliance failed to defeat. You have the respect of kings and nobles in a way that no ruler of Arendelle ever had. You are a queen in everything but name Silvie. The people need you and you more than anyone deserve the throne,"
"But you're the Crown Princess Elsa," Silvanna points out firmly. "By law and by right you are the next ruler,"
"A faceless ruler maybe that the people barely know," corrects Elsa. "Besides Silvie, you will make a better queen than I ever will be,"
Silvanna blinks at the words of Elsa. Those words of Elsa connects with a characteristic of the blonde that Silvanna had been trying to squash since day one here at Arendelle castle.
"Could it be because…..No,"
"Elsa, is this because you have self-esteem issues that you are trying to pass the crown to me?" Silvanna asks sternly this time grabbing Elsa's chin and forcing the young princess to look at her directly in the eye. Judging by the sudden glean of tears at Elsa's eyes, she hits her mark quite directly.
"Sorry?" Elsa mumbles making Silvanna roll her eyes at her as pulls Elsa's head to her chest where her heart is.
"You will make an excellent queen Elsa, never doubt it. I believe in you and so does Arendelle," Silvanna says though partially lying (Elsa made an excellent point of Arendelle looking at her more to lead than the Crown Princess).
"Thank you Silvie," Elsa replies softly letting the silence drag before adding: "Can I still pass the paperwork to you?"
Silvanna can't help the bark of amused laughter that leaves her lips. Of all the things that Elsa is worried about, it is paperwork that she mentions. In a way she is right, paperwork of a ruler seems like too much at times.
Before Silvanna can retort a sarcastic quip though; the sliding door of their room opens without warning making Silvanna jump atop Elsa covering the princess' nudity with her body; her back facing the door.
"Who is it?" Silvanna growls ready to pounce towards her spear and gut the stranger only to pause as she sees the face of Ranger General Price raising an eyebrow at the both of them.
"I'm not surprised that both of you got into it," the former companion of Robin Longstride commented. "Congratulations,"
"Thank you Captain," Elsa replies in a muffled tone beneath Silvanna.
"Yes, now this is part where you tell me why you are here captain before I hurly my spear at you for barging in into our private suites and seeing us in this state," hisses Silvanna. "I have given word to everyone here that we be not disturbed!" Personally she has no qualms being seen naked. In her previous life, men and women after all shower in the military barracks at times without issues. However she has great inhibitions of someone seeing Elsa naked.
"My apologies," replies the Brit coolly as professional as ever looking nonplussed even at the state of their undress. "However there is something urgent that I need to report on," he says making Silvanna perk up at that all traces of annoyance and anger gone as she narrows her eyes at him, the Knightess inside taking over.
"Yes?" she gestures to go on.
The Ranger just takes a deep sigh as he takes a strip of paper that Silvanna notices belonging to seal of the Navy. "The island of Boaz had been attacked this morning by a fleet of Corsair ships of the Red Dragon group. Sergeant Alucard is requesting for reinforcements,"
…..
Anna groans as she buries her head in paperwork. With Silvanna and Elsa out on "vacation", it has fallen to Anna to keep an eye on the country since she is the second to the throne of Arendelle and the only royal left present at the castle. Silvanna had personally requested (ordered) her to deal with the day to day paperwork to keep Arendelle running with stern reminders to "not burn the nation in a day". Anna of course agreed (not that she has any choice) after leaving baby Jacob in the care of Gerda and Kai who are also watching over Princess Kaldita at the nursery.
Right now however, Anna would rather burn the nation only if it saves her from this thrice goddamned paperwork. Who knew that keeping the country running requires mountains of paperwork? Anna had now a rather deep seated respect for Silvanna managing this daily. Anna had barely managed a day and already she is itching for when this will all end. She can't wait for Silvanna to return so that Anna might dump all this back to her.
Finished reading another report about the meat reserves of a fief with a rather long winded letter from its baron, Anna placed Arendelle's approval stamp on it before placing the paper to the rest of the approved ones. She groans though at her desk as she sees the pile in front of her. It had grown even more the last few seconds she had averted her eyes from it. She mentally wonders whether the stack has a life of its own dedicated on making her miserable. No matter how much Anna finishes, the pile seems to stack even more higher inch after inch.
Glaring hatefully at the paperwork , Anna takes a leaf from the top before focusing on it once more. The familiar words and logistics making her mind go monotone as it registers information like a drone. Wishing once more that Silvanna is here instead of her, Anna tries her best to focus at her work trying to ignore the part of her that wishes it all away. She might be more carefree than Elsa but like her sister, Anna is also educated by private tutors being a royal; thus the reason why she can take over the throne if her sisters ever gets killed.
Finished reading the rather overly formal and lengthy report of the Baron of Silvercliff, Anna yawns placing it with the others before glaring at the pile of paperwork that seems to have grown again another couple of inches.
"I wonder if Silvanna and Elsa will be mad if I burn them," Anna thought to herself. "Besides I would be doing them a favour out of this torture method,"
She's a second away from executing her vengeance to the pile of paperwork when out of nowhere a Ranger drops from the ceiling landing with a bent knee in front of her sending Anna shrieking to the paper piles.
"What the hell?!" Anna yells at the offender who ignores her rather annoyed glare and ruffled appearance as he looks at her through the cowl of his hood and mask.
"Your highness, Arendellian Intelligence sends word urgently. The island of Boaz had been attacked by Corsairs of Red Dragon!"
Anna groans as she pulls herself up from the fallen pile of paperwork dusting the ones attached to her away. Her day can't get any more worse.
…..
"INCOMING!" everyone ducked as a cannonball sweeps past through the walls cutting through hardened stone like knife on butter sending debris, weapons and bits of men scattering everywhere.
"Get over there and man the walls!" Matthias orders pushing a sergeant to rally the ragged mass of navy personnel to the breach on the wall.
He is loath to admit it but the Arendellian Navy had been caught with their pants down. With this time of the year, barely anyone dare brave the waters near Arendelle except for the large galleon ships after all. The time of winter bring powerful gusts of wind that makes anything but the largest vessels able to survive the seas. Even then accidents tend to occur.
It is also the reason why the Arendellian Southern fleet doesn't send patrol ships at this time of the year and stays moored on the docks of Boaz Fortress. There is simply no need. With big ships daring the strait to Arendelle, the lighthouses of Boaz can see them without issue even through heavy rain. Plus there's also the added fear that any patrol ship that dare the weather tends to get wrecked.
That is why the Arendellian Navy at Boaz is completely caught off guard as out of the gloom appears six galleons burning with liquid fire sail past the storm and head straight towards the moored ships. It is a complete disaster. With the navy-men assured with the defence of the weather, even if the watchmen manage to sound the alarm, the heavily moored ships cannot be launched. The giant burning floating tinders slam into the gathered fleet trapping the ships and causing untold havoc as the fire began to spread.
That is when ten frigates armed to the teeth with cannons appear out of the gloom and starts to bombard the large fortress with cannonballs sending the already distracted sailors to a panic as they both try to stem the fires on the docks and avoid being squashed by large flying orb metals. It does not help that as soon as the attack started, another Galleon appears this time close to the fortress as they are forced to a defensive due to heavy cannon fire. Out of the Galleon jumps down pirates through the rough redoubt on a cliff side screaming and yelling heading straight towards the amunitions depot and food stores of the Boaz garrison.
"You three come with me. As far as I am concerned, these bastards are getting nothing from us," Matthias orders with a growl to three of his sergeants who nods grimly drawing their sabres before following the group of pirates who are now starting to engage the few squires and guards of the storehouse. The rest of the idiots are busy trying to break through the doors by using maces or hammers. None of them are facing at the back.
Taking a glance at his three companions, the young officer nods at them before turning her attention back at the melee. The three are not Winged Hussars but they'll do. It's not as if the three of them have a choice anyway. Drawing his sabre and raising it up his head, Matthias wordlessly gestures it forward making the four of them break cover and rush towards the surprised pirates like ghosts who failed to notice their presence till the four are atop of them.
Blade meets flesh and blood is spilled on the night.
….
East of Boaz
Five silhouettes of ships sail silently on the mist despite the powerful waves. They are specially built with dabbed grey paints and the sails are designed triangular to prevent eyes from seeing them from afar. They're Galleons though and normally would be seen by any watcher. Things however are not normal as they sail past the massive waves. Behind them the flaming island of Boaz lights up like a beacon as the defenders of Arendelle remain busy under the threat of the pirates raiding it.
The five ships sail past the straight without notice or word from any of the watchers of Boaz.
….
Elsa looks at the retreating form of Silvanna walking away with the rest of the leadership administration of Arendelle to the council room. The two of them had managed to cut their vacation short after the message of Price about the attack on Boaz. While Anna is capable of handling Arendelle's daily affairs, the second princess of Arendelle is simply ill-equipped with something of this magnitude. Plus of course is the small fact that the military arm of Arendelle does not know her and thus does not respect her unlike Silvanna. Thus the reason as to why they had to go back.
Feeling a little left out with the departure of the one she loves, Elsa nods at the stable boy to bring Lancelot to the royal stables before heading off to find Kaldita who had been left behind at the care of Gerda and Kai.
Traversing the familiar halls of the castle, it does not take Elsa long to find the servant suite of Gerda and Kai that is beside the royal nursery. Knocking on the door with her knuckles gently, Elsa enters as a faint sound of "come in" comes from within.
A soft smile adorns her face as the moment she enters, a light blue blur slams into her navel making Elsa laugh as the familiar light blue locks of a four year old Kaldita come into her vision.
"Hi mama," greets the adorable little girl looking up at her with a beaming smile, her face round and cute.
"Hello mini-me, have you been good to your Aunt Gerda and Kai?" asks Elsa looking at her old servant who is watching over the sleeping form of Jacob in a crib.
"Yes mama. Aunty Gerda taught me my letters today. It's boring and I can't wait for you and mama Silvie also to come back from you vacation. Did you enjoy mama?" she asks brightly.
Despite herself Elsa can't stop the thunderous blush that appears on her face giving her cheeks a rosy hue as she quite vividly remembers the events that she and Silvanna partook in last night. She had been quite annoyed about the sudden turn of events after being called back due to the emergency that she quite forgot about it, but now that her daughter is asking it, all the memories slam into her psyche like the judgement of the gods.
She remembers every move, every feeling as she and Silvanna are joined as one. She remembers the soft caresses, those soft lips trailing every part of her. She remembers Silvanna's beautiful form bending in angles that she does not even know the body can bend. She remembers hands touching her hips holding on for dear life as they move in tandem with…..
"Mama, are you okay?" the sweet innocent voice of Kaldita brings Elsa out of her musings and she mentally kicks herself as she realizes that has been daydreaming about "fun things" with her daughter right in front of her. Judging from the knowing look and raised eyebrow that Gerda is doing, the servan knows what is running inside Elsa's head.
Still…..
"Yes mini-me, mama had fun with your mama Silvie," answers Elsa trying not to think too much about the word "fun".
It seems as though it is enough for Kaldita though as her face brightens at Elsa's answer. "Yayyy, I'm happy that you had fun mama. Mama, where is Mama Silvie though? Why is she not here?" she asks, her face looking behind Elsa as if expecting to see Silvanna behind her.
Silvanna winces as the little tyke's face fell not seeing her second mother-figure. As the Steward of Arendelle, it is a challenge for Silvanna to balance time between the country and her personal life. As a result, she tends to be absent around Kaldita's growth though she really makes an effort to be there. In fact she wants to be there personally. Only thing is there are things that need her personal attention always such as today. Kaldita of course slowly starts to notice the trending line of lack of presence of the Knightess.
"She had gone to save the world again sweety. Your mama Silvie does to protect me, you, your aunty Gerda, Anna and your uncle Kai," says Elsa opting to tell the youngster a simplified form of Silvanna's duty.
"She goes to beat bad men again mama?" asks the youngster brightly her eyes shining making Elsa chuckle as she ruffles the blue locks of her daughter.
Kaldita despite Silvanna's absence apparently developed a hero worship for her. In her eyes, her mother is a beacon of strength, fortitude, a fantasy heroine that saves castles and rescues princesses. In a way Elsa is glad that she looks at Silvanna that way instead of resenting her. Elsa does not know how her heart will take it if Kaldita starts hating the one Elsa loves.
"Yes she did dearie. Pirates are attacking our friends and your mama Silvie had gone to help out. Don't worry she will be back soon with stories of how she managed to defeat them,"
"Yay Mama, I'm excited to hear-,"
"Ahem!" Kaldita's cheer is cut off as every eye in the room looks at the door where the hulking form of General Horst stands. He is however not alone.
"General," Elsa greets with a nod before focusing her attention to Jonathan Johnson, Lord Viktor and interestingly Blackwall as well. "Prime Minister, Lord Financer, Lord Secretary,"
"Your highness," they all bowed to her before General Horst stands forward. "I'm afraid that there is a matter of great importance that we need to discuss with you Your Higness,"
"Shouldn't Silvanna be the one you are talking to?" Elsa can't help but ask feeling rather confused as to why the spotlight is on her and not at the Stewardess of Arendelle.
"Normally yes but this is an issue that can only be discussed with you Your Highness since you are the Crown Princess," says Jonathan Johnson. "It is a matter of great importance to the nation,"
"Fine, fine, I'll go," Elsa waves off before looking back at Kaldita with a beaming smile. "Mama needs to go to work sweetie. I'll be back so behave and stay with your auntie Gerda and Uncle Kai okay?"
"Okay mama, come back soon with mama Silvie okay?" the four year old replies giving Elsa's cheek a wet kiss before bouncing back at Gerda's side asking the maid for another book for her to read.
Looking at the back of her daughter, Elsa sighs as she stands up dusting her skirt before facing the highest officials of Arendelle.
"Come, let's take this to my study," she simply says exiting the nursery room with them in tow behind her. The walk is silent across the halls before they finally enter the receiving room of Elsa where she or Silvanna usually sits when dealing with official business of Arendelle more privately.
Taking a seat at the high backed chair, Elsa sighs as the familiar comfortable cushions do wonders to her backside. Leaning at it, she stares at the gathered officials who remained standing despite the chairs in front of them.
"There are chairs you know," she gestures at the guest chairs in front of her desk.
"We prefer standing for this Your Highness," answers Lord Blackwall as stern as ever.
Now that raises Elsa's eyebrows. Never has anyone yet refuses a chair offered by her in her own office. That of course touches her curiosity even more.
"Very well, suit yourself. Now what is this so important that you four had to barge in the nursery room of all places?" she asks.
When Lord Jonathan Johnson stands forward with a piece of paper and a grim countenance, Elsa immediately gets the feeling that whatever it is that they need to discuss is going to be big.
"The coronation Your Highness,"
….
"So they took nothing?" Silvanna blinks at Jillian, the leader of the Scout Corps, a branch of the military attached to the Ranger Corps. They are usually the ones in charge of the messenger pigeons or the runners that bring messages and orders from one camp to the other. In this case, the message pigeon from Boaz.
"Nothing of note at least your highness," answers the Corporal. "Former Captain Matthias had managed to rally the defenders of the storehouses and repel the raiding force sent in diversion by the enemy. They did however manage to damage significantly the southern fleet. Ship Mistress Miya sends her estimation that it would take all summer at least to repair or replace the damaged floating vessels,"
"That doesn't make any sense," mutters Silvanna to herself looking at the map of Arendelle with Boaz watching over the strait at the South. Why in the world would pirates attack Boaz with such large numbers and only to steal nothing. There is something fish going on here that Silvanna does not see and she hates it.
"Corporal, alert the border patrols to be on guard and put all rosters active. Tell them to keep an eye on the beaches and for anything unusual,"
"Yes Your Highness," the Corporal salutes before running off to obey her orders leaving Silvanna alone at the room watching the map of Arendelle.
A feeling of anxiety crawls up her spine. It is common for great pirate bands to try and raid islands like Boaz and fail spectacularly. So why does this feel as if she's walking into a shatterpoint here?
…..
Somewhere on the northeast side of Arendelle figures in black and orange move silently over the jungle. Despite their heavy equipment they remain tense and ready as they walk like wraiths on the night. Not that they need it. Heavy snow and hail continuously fall during this season of winter in Arendelle. No sane Arendellian other than the occasional Ranger would dare brave the hostile weather out in the wilds.
Not this men though. They are not locals from Arendelle and their home is far downer south where the temperature is warmer. They are here for a mission though and despite the cold weather that they are wary of, they're more afraid of their king. To be more specific they are afraid of the punishment that he is about to dish on them if they even dare to show their faces to him if they failed their mission.
Thus despite their personal protests, they boarded the skiffs that brought them here from their Galleons and followed the frozen river on foot till they've finally managed to reach their destination. The path towards it is a goat path covered in wood, outcrop and heavy snow but it is there. Looming above them is a massive dam the size of a giant castle built by an old monarch of Arendelle and very necessary for their king's plans.
…..
Author's Note:
Hey readers and fans. Yeahhh, we are coming to the Final Arc of the story. The journey had been long but I am glad for those of you that kept up with the story. Stay tuned for the rest for the next is canon.