Three prisoners made their way across a frozen field three miles outside Arendelle. The winter air breathed a coldness that had not been seen since The Great Freeze two years ago. A biting wind blew from the north that caused the trees to shutter and the grass to rustle. Scratches of snow gathered in thin clumps and ate hungrily at the ground.
Their feet were shackled in heavy chains, and their hands were bound tightly by rope. They limped in a line towards the gallows. Leading them was a broadly built man who went by the name Roderick. His blue eyes were severe and calculating, about as cold as the snow itself. He had dressed himself in a black coat, leather gloves, a well-fitted shirt, pants, and some boots. He walked slowly, observantly, as he brought forth the men to their demises.
A few yards away was a spectator: another man no older than twenty-two. He sat nervously atop a gray horse, his hands gripping tight the reins. Unlike Roderick, the young man's eyes were a pale green, not in any way cold or calculating, but soft and gentle. His name was Noah, and he despised executions.
"Phillip Christensen," Roderick counted the names of the three men in an equally penetrating voice after aligning them along the wide scaffold, "Oskar Hagen, and Bjorn Jakobsen . . ." He paused for a moment to give each man the time to whisper a brief prayer. "You stand here guilty of murder in the first degree. As Arendelle's rightful executioner, and honoring Her Majesty's law, I sentence you all to death by hanging." He spoke loudly and clearly. Every person present could hear the indifference in his tone.
Noah remained fixated on the three criminals. They each appeared remorseful in their own ways. Phillip Christensen: a strong looking man with black hair and blue eyes—he kept himself composed, however, it was easy for Noah to decipher the lingering terror in his expression. Oskar Hagen: an older man whose blond hair was beginning to thin and turn white—he too remained calm, but traces harboring fear echoed out with every shallow breath. And finally, Bjorn Jakobsen: a young man, no older than Noah himself, with a patchy red beard and brown eyes—tears flowed freely down his cheeks, and he rocked constantly back and forth.
Roderick continued. "As it is with every execution, I ask you now if you have any final words."
None spoke. Noah felt the tension rise between the three villains as they remained in silence. Do they really have nothing to say? he thought to himself. Then, almost as if by cue, the crying man Bjorn carried the words of his final confession.
"I beg you not to do this!" he pleaded, the tears endlessly pouring, his voice shattered and emotionally powerful. "I didn't do it! Please! I swear on my mother's life that I'm innocent!" The boy's cries yielded little effect on Roderick.
Almost mechanically, he slipped each noose around each neck one at a time. Bjorn continued begging that his life be spared, while his body convulsed in terrible fits. Roderick then pulled out an iron key and removed the chains around their swollen ankles. Noah watched on as his heart nearly beat out his chest, for he couldn't stomach the harrowing cries escaping Bjorn's blue lips.
"Please! Have mercy! I'm innocent! For pity's sake, have mercy!" The convulsions grew in extremity, and before long he was foaming at the mouth.
I cannot bear to look! Noah's mind screamed. He covered his eyes with his gloved hand and tried his best to drown out the maddened young man. Get it over with already, Roderick! repeated the thought. Noah laid his other hand over his chest. His heartbeat was faster than ever!
"I'm innocent! Damn you! I'm innocent! Have mercy!"
The blood curdling screams were then put to rest upon Roderick pulling the lever. The platforms below their feet fell through, and the three men dropped instantly. Like stepping on fresh snow, their necks crunched and cracked, the rope tearing through their tender skin. Bjorn's eyes rolled to the back of his head as his face contorted into a gape, while the veins above his shoulders bulged and turned a solid purple. Lifeless and haunting, the bodies swayed side to side.
Roderick stepped down from the scaffold and walked over to Noah who remained on his horse. In every sense of the word, the man appeared satisfied, evident by the pleasant folding of his lips. Noah frowned inwardly, detesting the smugness that had betaken Roderick, but said not a word about it.
"Do you wish for me to report back to the queen?" Noah asked, biting back on his anger.
Roderick sighed deeply. "If you wish." He then removed one of his gloves and wiped the gleaming sweat hovering above a single eyebrow. "But if you'd rather I do it, that's fine. I know you don't particularly enjoy executions."
Noah withheld his laughter and a sarcastic remark. He hesitantly glanced beyond Roderick standing in front of him and observed silently the hanging bodies. His eyes were stuck on Bjorn for a long moment. "It's a pity that they had to die," he eventually said.
"Criminals get what they deserve," Roderick replied. "Be it the scaffold or prison, justice is always swift and binding." He slid his glove back onto his pale hand and glanced up at Noah, whose eyes were still attached to the deceased young man. "Stare all you want," he added, "he won't be coming back from the dead no matter how much he pleads and cries in the afterlife." His tone had soured and grew to mockery at referring to Bjorn.
After such business had concluded, Roderick saddled himself directly behind Noah, and the two men rode the three miles back to Arendelle without a word.
They were met at the stable by none other than Kai. The fat man wore a forlorn face, and his body language read like a sad book. "Welcome back, Noah," he said as the younger gentleman unsaddled. Kai could tell by his ghost-like appearance that the execution hadn't gone over well. Meanwhile, Roderick had called for the stable hand to bring the gray steed a bucket of oats.
"Thank you," Noah replied, releasing an exasperated breath. "It's been a long morning. One that I would like to forget. Is Princess Anna awake yet?"
"I'm afraid the princess is sleeping in today." Kai smiled, hoping to bring some lighthearted humor into the depressing situation. "She's a rascal that one. I'm always having to keep her out of trouble."
Noah returned his smile with a faint grin. "Her and the queen are vastly different in that regard that's for sure. How is Her Majesty doing this morning?"
"Not too well." As Kai talked, Roderick could be seen in the background listening in on their conversation. Despite noticing this, Kai continued. "Her Majesty was quite anxious about today's execution—as she always is when criminals are ordered to the gallows."
Noah hadn't noticed Roderick's eavesdropping and carried on the conversation as if nothing like that was happening a mere pace or two behind him. "Roderick insists I come with him. He knows how much I dislike watching. I must cover my eyes almost every time. And it's the worst when they start fussing and crying!" The young man's voice began to falter and break. He proceeded to lean in and whisper something into Kai's ear. Roderick tried to hear it but couldn't.
Kai patted Noah's back. "Perhaps, you should go eat something. I hear your stomach growling. The cooks have supplied a wonderful breakfast this morning." His eyes narrowed for only a moment when they landed on Roderick who remained lingering, but quickly brightened up again when Noah's gaze fell upon them.
"I most certainly will," he replied with an almost childish giddiness. "See you soon my friend. I hope to have this disturbed business far behind me when we meet again." Noah turned on his heels and began making his way out of the stable, passing by Roderick. They locked eyes but didn't exchange any words. Noah simply ignored him as he exited through the gate.
Roderick looked at Kai with an icy, emotionless expression. "You can't keep coddling the boy," he said sternly and unapologetic. "He needs to learn that the world is a grim and twisted place—that justice is the single most righteous force in existence." He had a strong disliking for the fat man. Disliked his ideals, disliked the way he carried himself, and even disliked his sympathetic voice. It was difficult for him not to glare spitefully.
"Being devoted to justice doesn't mean you throw out all traces of love and compassion," Kai replied. He too had an evolving disliking for Roderick. The man was too critical, too insensitive and, to a lesser extent, cynical.
"Upholding the law has little room for such things." Roderick quickly turned to leave but added in a frustrated voice: "I hope you haven't plagued Her Majesty with your formless ideas." And, without another word, he vanished beyond the gate that Noah had left open.
Kai remained inside the stable for another moment, his thoughts reflecting on the conversation he and Noah had, along with the heated exchange between him and Roderick. In his mind, the two men were polar opposites. Where the former was planted the seed of kindness in his heart, the latter was hardened by age and duty. Kai couldn't truly blame Roderick for his views—the man was conditioned into them by his father and by life itself. After pondering to himself and coming to a few conclusions, Kai closed the stable gate behind him as he quickly walked back to the castle.
Noah sat alone at the long dining hall table, eating on a plateful of two greasy sausages, scrambled eggs, and a warm biscuit. The food pleased his hungry stomach, and he ate excitedly, drinking a tall glass of orange juice on the side. He hadn't noticed that Roderick was watching him from the doorway.
The older man possessed a fondness over the boy, one that nobody thought was possible given Roderick's demeanor. Still, he felt responsibility to mold Noah into a person who understood the difference between good and evil and the importance of justice. It was a rather black or white way of thinking, but Roderick sought to drill his beliefs into at least one person before he died. And he'd be cursed if he allowed Kai's whimsical views to taint another soul.
Noah eventually glanced up from what he was eating and noticed Roderick immediately. He wore his black coat and gloves valiantly, his fading black hair combed back, and his blue eyes constantly shifting to the left and right as he always absorbed every bit of his surroundings. The dining hall existed in the center of the castle, past the ballroom and before the throne room. Its decorations were elegant from the crystal chandelier to the sparkling curtains that fluttered and covered the windows. The flooring also impressed many visitors with how simply the wood shined after every waxing. However, the most notable element inside the large room was the dining table. It could easily sit fifty or more people, and so Noah appeared like a gnat before a great structure, swallowed whole by its all-consuming nature.
He stared at Roderick for several strained seconds. Noah had wished to not see him for at least the next couple of hours; the execution still left him with a pit in his otherwise full stomach. He attempted a smile, but his face muscles wouldn't allow it, and instead he simply sat there with a blank look.
Roderick allowed himself a few steps. "I reported to the queen," he stated. "She seemed relieved that the execution went successfully."
Successfully? Noah thought angrily. Is that how you describe it? His face remained expressionless, having dropped his fork beside the empty plate. He held himself back from yelling at the man and continued sitting calmly. "Her Majesty has a hard time sending anyone to their death."
A few more steps and Rodrick stood at the other end of the table. "As to be expected," he replied. "You can't expect someone to be comfortable with death when they're hardly around it. And you especially can't expect a young queen—comprised mainly with questions—to be accustomed to such orders. However, it must be noted that what's right is always heeded in the end. You cry for those criminals." Rodrick sharpened. "Why?"
The question hit Noah like a frozen bucket across his face. He removed his gloves from his hands and ran his fingers through his blond hair. Noah was a handsome young man with a subtle bone structure and a face graced by youthfulness. Though at that moment the youth usually propelled by his features was replaced with a darkened, older appearance—a shadow of sorts, created by the downward slant of his thick brows and the frown riding at the edge of his lips. "The same reason you're so bound by the notion of justice," he spoke in an irritated manner. "I'm bound by the notions of love and empathy. Is it really for us to say who should die and who shouldn't?"
Roderick shook his head in disgust at the views expressed to him. "It is for us to say. We uphold the law and order in Arendelle. If we don't punish those who break the law, then what's to keep dangerous men from taking over the world? Kai has been talking to you. Don't deny it! He's infested your mind with the idea of love and empathy outweighing law and order." His hands violently clenched into tight fists, and he hit the table. "That idiot!" Roderick was consumed by his rage. Noah fearfully sank into his chair. Roderick was a physical force to be reckoned with. Standing a few inches past six feet with wide, muscular shoulders, a man would do good not to get on his bad side. So, naturally, Noah worried about Kai. The hefty gentleman wouldn't stand a chance against Roderick's wrath.
Noah watched as he stormed out of the room, random curses and other words flowing through erratic streams from his small mouth and grinding teeth. Roderick's eyes had burned with such an intensity that Noah had only witnessed it a few times. He typically wasn't quick to anger, but Kai truly knew how to get under his skin, especially when it came to Noah, who, in fact, Roderick saw as his own disciple. Of course, the question remained if the boy regarded himself in the same light.
Once the furious man had gone, Noah tossed his gloves into his green uniform's pocket, gathered his plate, silverware, and empty cup before entering the kitchen. The marbled floor was slick with mop water, and Noah trod across carefully. He enjoyed the fresh fragrance of soap as the dishes were being washed by a servant named Emil: a stocky man with a curly mustache and two beady eyes. Around his waist he wore a white apron turned a tinge yellow by grease. He was whistling a soft tune when Noah placed his dishes into the foamy sink.
"Enjoyed your breakfast?" Emil asked. "Gerda spent hours on those biscuits." He glanced around. "I wonder where she ran off to. Probably consoling the queen about our meat shortage."
Noah ignored most of what was said, for it was common knowledge that Emil enjoyed rambling, but clearly heard the last part. "What meat shortage?" This was the first time he had known about it.
"Leave it to you to be completely oblivious! I'm kidding of course. Apparently, almost all the meats coming from Arendelle's farms have been put on hold. 'The cows and pigs and chickens are getting sick! We need assistance!' that's at least what the farmers are saying. It's got Gerda in an awful way. She tells me her nights have been sleepless and anxious." Emil chuckled. "Can you believe that something so basic is worrying the poor woman to death? She's old, so her heart can't take much."
"What about Kai?" Noah asked. "What has he said about it?"
Emil pulled out a wet plate from the sink and began scrubbing it in circles with a plain rag. "Not too much. He doesn't usually concern himself with matters not pertaining to the queen directly. He did mention something about investigating a few farms later today. I hope he finds something and can put poor Gerda to ease."
There was nothing else to be said. Noah left the eccentric Emil to his duties and headed for the queen's study. She had requested that a small structure be built outside in the castle's garden. "I like looking out the window and seeing flowers. It refreshes me." That's what she had told them. Roderick directly oversaw the process, and, within two days, it was built. The building reminded Noah of a dignified shed: the base and walls were all entirely crafted from oak-wood, a brick path led to its door, and surrounding it, as intended, were flowerbeds.
Noah approached the door and knocked four times with the back of his hand. He hadn't seen the queen in about three days, though he had heard and followed her orders—the execution being the latest one. In most cases, she only conversed with Roderick about the on-goings of Arendelle, and her orders concerning such prospects were spoken through him.
Roderick wasn't the captain of the guard nor was he an advisor. His roles were less official and more practical. He handled criminals mostly, arresting them and executing them. He had served the royal family for thirty years and had been there during The Great Freeze. During that time, he made sure that houses were given enough food and blankets, working in the shadows for Arendelle as Prince Hans manipulated and conspired. He detested the prince with all his being. "The scaffold is where that wretched human belongs," Roderick would say whenever Hans was brought up.
Returning to the current situation, Elsa sat quietly in her study after eating her morning breakfast comprised of fresh fruits and oatmeal. The empty bowl laid on her desk across a large stack of papers and books. She examined it all and stood up when she heard Noah knocking. "Come in," she said.
The door opened slowly and in stepped Noah. "Good morning, Your Majesty." He bowed and then approached her desk. The room had been taken good care of by the queen. A few blood-red roses grew beautifully along the windowsill. The walls were lined with filled bookcases, while a world map hung directly behind her—certain locations had been circled and tacked—and the light coming from the windows lit up the room exponentially.
They remained standing for a time but sat down on the words: "Good morning. It's been a while since we talked," given by Elsa. She looked quite beautiful today: her white hair braided and resting perfectly over her right shoulder, her sapphire blue eyes scanning over a single document, and her morning dress seemingly shimmering beneath the sunlight.
"It has been awhile, Your Majesty," he replied, shuffling around in the chair and running his hand through his hair for a second time that day. He wasn't entirely sure why he had come, and felt Elsa knew that. Yet, she allows me in here anyways, he thought. "The execution went well," his faulty tone made it obvious that he didn't believe his own words.
Elsa's eyes fell away from the document and fell onto Noah. "Yes, Roderick was telling me about it earlier. He told me about Bjorn Jakobsen's outburst. All evidence pointed to his guilt. The blood was on his shirt, and we found the knife at his house wrapped in parchment . . ."
"A foolish murderer," Noah interrupted. He hadn't meant to, but the words simply came out without any warning—words that he used only to keep up his appearance. "Forgive me for interrupting, Your Majesty," he said. "It's been a rough day for me. I'm a bit worse for wear."
"I understand. Not everyone has the stomach for executions like Roderick. I know I certainly don't." She leaned in and whispered. "In fact, between you and me, I think Roderick is a bit sadistic. Please, don't tell him I said anything, but his retelling of Bjorn's death sounded like he'd actually enjoyed it."
That didn't surprise Noah. Often, in the past, Roderick would recount the looks on the criminals' faces and sometimes even poke fun at their last words. "Criminals are scum, and they deserve to be treated as scum. If I had a noose for every murderer . . ." He'd go on to say. Noah wasn't entirely sure how to feel about it. A part of him hated the vile pettiness of it, but another part of him wanted to understand Roderick's point of view. If he was indeed the man's disciple, then it was imperative that he discern the man's opinions between being justified or being malicious.
"I won't mention a word about it, Your Majesty," Noah assured. His promise appeased Elsa, and she rested her body against the back of her chair.
"Thank you, Noah. Is there anything else you would like to discuss?" Elsa's face seemed attentive and curious as to what the young man possibly might say. It was a clear indicator that she cared about his thoughts on matters that were above him.
"Nothing at the moment, Your Majesty," he replied as he got up. "I will leave now and attend to my duties. I hope you have a splendid day, my queen."
Elsa smiled. "And I hope you do too. Please, if you wish to speak to me anytime, you're more than welcome. I can't even imagine what it would be like having only Roderick to talk to."
They shared in laughter. Noah then opened the door and stepped back into the garden. Elsa returned to the papers in front of her. He shut the door. The morning was still new, and the pedals of the colorful flowers surrounding him danced vibrantly. He assumed that Roderick had went to talk about his unacceptable beliefs to Kai. Noah chuckled lightly as he walked across the garden. Poor Kai. He's probably getting an earful.
Out of the goodness in his heart, Noah decided to take on Kai's task of speaking to the farmers in the village about the supposed meat shortage. He believed his friend could use a little break, and so he would carry out the task without question.
Noah left the castle, walked across the bridge, and hurried into town.