September 18, 1840
Anna's eye began to twitch. She rubbed at it, causing a bead of sweat to tickle her brow. Reaching to her sleeve for a handkerchief, she found it empty. I left it on Elsa's vanity. Biting back a curse, she swiped at the annoyance with a fingertip, wiping it clean on the bandage covering her forehead.
She suspected the twitch, along with the dull throbbing behind her eyes, had more to do with Poul's droning voice, than the head wound. Her back and legs had begun to protest against the unyielding wood of the council chair. How can sitting be so exhausting?
Stealing a glance at the clock, she wanted to groan. Less than an hour had passed since she'd arrived for the meeting. She hadn't wanted to leave Elsa's side, but the council had requested a meeting to update her on state affairs.
As Regent, it was her duty to govern, until Elsa was able to resume her duties. Words of one of her less tactful tutors whispered in her ear. There must be spares to heirs, in case the heir dies. That bit of news had sent her eight-year-old self crying to her mother's lap, and the tutor seeking employment elsewhere. It had taken a visit to Elsa's door, and a whispered answer from beyond, to satisfy her that Elsa was safe inside.
How she longed for the comfort of her mother's arms. She shook away the thought. That comfort has long since passed, and there'll be no whispered assurances of Elsa's safety.
Elsa trusts me, I won't let her down. She would act as Regent, even if it meant suffering through Poul alternating between complaining and bragging about his trip to France.
It didn't help her bodice was trying to squeeze her to death. Alma had insisted it would help support her bruised ribs, instead it was slowly crushing her. On the bright side, if I pass out, I won't have to hear any more about Poul's trip. She swallowed a chuckle at the thought.
Tugging at the bodice, in an unsuccessful attempt to loosen it, she shifted, unable to find a comfortable position. The discomfort couldn't distract her from thoughts of Elsa. She'd spent the last two days at Elsa's side, with no signs of change.
Hours of talking and reading to her, had no effect. Unanswered questions swirled through her mind. How long can she survive without food or water? How do you heal magic?
Sighing she sank a little deeper into the chair.
"Are we boring you, Your Highness?" Poul's arrogant snip pulled her from her thoughts.
"What? No, I just…" She straightened, heat burned her cheeks, as it had when her tutors had called on her for daydreaming. Poul is not my tutor. The heat cooled as she leveled a glare at the man. "Carry on, please."
"Your Highness," Bishop Solberg offered a sympathetic smile.
Anna found it almost as annoying as Poul's snips.
"Perhaps we should adjourn till tomorrow. You're still healing, we wouldn't want to over tax you."
"We can't adjourn." Poul bellowed, sweeping a hand over the stack of papers laying before him. "We're not even half way through the agenda."
Biting back a sigh, Anna couldn't keep her shoulders from slumping. The thought of suffering through more of Poul's rants caused her eye to twitch.
"If Her Highness,"
Anna's teeth grit at the way Poul sing-songed her title.
"Isn't feeling up to acting as regent, perhaps she should assign the duties to someone else." His lips rose into what Anna assumed was an attempt at a smile. She found it mocking. "Just until she's feeling better, of course."
Her hands tightened atop the table. I'm Regent, I could knock his teeth out, no one would complain. They might even give me a medal, at least a plaque. She attempted a smile, though it felt more like a snarl. "There's no need for that, councilman. I assure you, I'm more than capable of handling my duties."
Oblivious to his impeding peril, Poul flicked a speck of dust from his sleeve. "It's obvious the princess's thoughts are elsewhere. Perhaps she'd like to take her leave and attend to whatever is more pressing than state business."
"Watch your tongue, Poul." Admiral Halldor warned, a hand coming to rest on his sword hilt.
Stitches and bruised ribs were all that kept Anna from leaping for the man's throat. "You arrogant, pompous ass," She was too angry to enjoy the way Poul's jaw dropped in stunned shock. "My thoughts, Councilman, are with the Queen. I left her side to handle my duties as regent, as she would want. In case you have forgotten, her health and well-being is of great concern to the state."
Poul's face flushed an alarming shade of red, his mouth began to open and close as a fish gasping for air. For once, he seemed at a loss for words.
Reigning in her rage, Anna managed a civil tone as she turned to Halldor. "Admiral, you mentioned a report on repairs to the fleet. Please go ahead." She glared at Poul, daring him to challenge her for cutting off his report.
"Yes, ma'am." Halldor made no effort to hide his amusement at Poul's expense. "With the help of Her Majesty's kraken, we've recovered all of our fleet along with most of the Lienz's fleet."
How many of the dead were recovered with those ships? She couldn't bring herself to ask the question aloud.
"Several of their ships were destroyed beyond repair." Halldor said. "The captured Lienz ships are being converted to our needs. We are well ahead of schedule on repairs. The entire fleet should be ready to sail by the end of the month."
"Good." Anna nodded, her mind racing. "Admiral, with the addition of the Lienz ships, won't that double the size of our fleet?"
"Actually, it will triple it, ma'am."
Lost in thought, Anna's mouth twisted up at one corner. "Could we decommission some of the older ships, and use them to replace some of the merchant and fishing vessels lost and damaged during the attack?"
It was Halldor's turn to ponder. "I believe so, some of the older scout ships could be converted to fishing vessels, and there are several larger frigates that could be used by merchants."
"So, we're just going to start handing out ships?" Poul said.
"What do you suggest we do with them, Councilman?" Anna asked.
"Sell them. Build up the kingdom's coffers."
Something twitched in Anna's gut. She couldn't decide if it was anger, disgust or both. Why does Elsa allow him to remain on the council? "Councilman, our people have lost their ships, most don't have the funds to replace them. It will cost Arendelle's coffers nothing to give those ships away, and it will help those hurt by the war."
"The Princess makes an excellent point," Bishop Solberg jumped in, cutting off Poul's response. "Many have lost or suffered damages to their businesses. They will need help rebuilding."
Poul's head shook from side to side, red flush crept up his neck and cheeks. Snapping papers about, he mumbled something under his breath.
Anna was glad she couldn't hear it. Let him stew in his own anger for a bit.
"Admiral, begin selecting ships to be decommissioned, and we'll work out a plan for issuing them to those in need."
"Yes, ma'am." He nodded.
"How are repairs going in town?"
Halldor shifted his arm sling. "Not as well as the fleet repairs, ma'am. Most of the docks were damaged. Teams are working on them, but it will be several weeks, possibly a month before all of them are reopened."
"A month?!" Poul spun toward Halldor. Wood creaked under the strain. "Have you any idea how much trade revenue we'll lose in a month?!"
"Not as much as we would have lost had the Lienz fleet taken the town." Halldor's icy gaze, caused the man to shrink back in his chair.
Ignoring Poul, Anna pressed on. "Admiral, please thank the crews for their hard work."
"Yes, ma'am."
"What is the status of the traitors, Admiral?"
"We've identified Tollak, Baron Ulstein and Earl Stewart as the leaders of the rebellion, ma'am."
"Earl Stewart, you must be mistaken."
All eyes turned to Poul.
He cleared his throat before continuing. "Earl Stewart is a well-respected nobleman. His family has been in Arendelle for generations."
"Be that as it may," Halldor said. "We have confirmed he hired the mercenaries who attacked the Queen and her guard atop the North Mountain. Captain Olsen," He motioned to the officer at his side. "Led a troop to the Earl's estate the morning following the battle in town. Captain, give a report on your findings."
"Yes, sir." Olsen directed his reply to Anna. "Upon arriving at the estate, we were greeted by Lady Ursala. When I called for her husband, she announced he was deceased, and I was welcome to take his corpse back to town as she didn't wish to soil her lands with it."
"Deceased?!" Anna hadn't meant to squeal. "How?"
"Gunshot wound through the heart, ma'am. I examined the body and confirmed he was indeed dead."
"Through the heart?" Anna eased back in the chair. "Suicide?"
"No, ma'am. Lady Ursala caught him cleaning out his safe with money he had obtained by selling off her family's lands. She confronted him about his involvement in the rebellion. He confessed to his crimes, at which point Lady Ursala drew a pistol, and shot him dead."
"Really?" Nervous laughter left her in a snort, she covered her mouth with a hand.
"Yes, ma'am. Lady Ursala sends her regrets she did not realize his traitorous behavior sooner.
"Remind me to give her a medal."
Murmured laughter circled the table. All but Poul found amusement in the quip.
"Lady Ursala, also sends wishes for the Queen's speedy recovery."
Mention of Elsa squashed Anna's moment of relief. "Thank you, Captain."
"It appears, ma'am," Halldor said. "Tollak was the leader of the traitors in the ranks. He managed to place his men in key positions throughout the town and castle to cause the greatest damage."
Tollak, Fingernails sank into the palms of Anna's fists. He played me, just like Hans.
"Your Highness?"
"What?" She realized all eyes were upon her.
Halldor had the good grace not to point out her lapse. "I have the casualty reports, if you would like to hear them?"
No, I would not like to hear them. Steeling herself, Anna nodded. "Please, continue."
Olsen handed him a sheet of paper.
Halldor's eyes swept over it, his mustache dipping low. "Confirmed deaths during two days of battles, among Marines five hundred and thirty-four. Sailors three hundred and ninety-seven."
Fingernails bit deeper into the palms of Anna's hands, she said nothing.
"Royal Guard, seventy-eight."
Faces of Anna's guard detail haunted her vision. Her knuckles whitened.
"Wounded among Marines eight hundred and seven. Sailors six hundred and two. Royal guard one hundred and thirty-eight."
"Why," she swallowed to keep her voice from cracking. "Are the Marines' losses so high?"
"Most of them were aboard the ships. Once the ships began to sink, they were either trapped below decks or were weighted down by gear and unable to swim to safety."
Anna's chest tightened, she forgot to breathe. Unable to answer she managed a nod.
Taking that as a cue to continue, Halldor picked up a second list. "Casualties among the civilian population are eighteen dead, one hundred and twenty-three wounded, so far."
"So far?" The words left Anna's lips as barely a whisper.
"Yes, ma'am. We're still recovering bodies from damaged buildings and the sea." His gaze dropped. "And there are a number of wounded who are not expected to survive." Drawing himself up, Halldor looked her in the eye. "The coming days will give us a better sense of the total numbers."
Anna slumped deeper into the chair, crushed beneath the weight of his words. Her mind swirled through the numbers. "So many lost."
"Yes, ma'am." Halldor agreed, sitting aside the paper. "Though I assure you, the losses would have been far greater if not for the Queen's ice creature. It turned the battle in our favor when all was thought lost."
Unable to speak, Anna's head moved up and down in a slow nod. A thousand dead. Almost two thousand wounded. Something hot and wet trickled down her cheek. She swiped at the tear.
How many more are we going to lose? Elsa's pale face filled her thoughts. Squeezing her eyes shut, she shook away the image.
"We have patrols searching for traitors, and the mercenaries who fled into the mountains. A few have already tried to sneak back into town and onto ships. The new port master is keeping a close watch."
"New port master?" Anna pulled herself back to the present.
"Yes, ma'am," Olsen said. "The former was working with Tollak."
Anna noticed Olsen made a point of ignoring Tollak's rank when speaking of him. It was a fitting insult. "Is there any word on the man who stabbed my sister?"
"No, ma'am. We located the area of the attack, but there was no sign of either man. We're still looking."
"Captain, when he's found, I want him brought to me immediately. Understood?"
"Yes, ma'am." He dipped his head to her.
"Admiral have you managed to get any information from Hans?"
"No, ma'am. Doctor Engen has allowed him to be moved to the dungeon, but he is still weak. I attempted to question him this morning without any success."
"Keep trying, I want to know everything he knows about that disk."
"Yes, ma'am. Your Highness, with your permission, I would like for Captain Olsen to begin replacing the heavy losses suffered by the Queen's Shield."
Heavy losses, The warmth of Morten's blood covered her palm. She rubbed it against her skirt, unable to remove the imagined stain.
"We need to get trustworthy soldiers into those positions as quickly as possible. As long as there are traitors on the loose, we can't afford for you or Her Majesty to remain unguarded."
"Trustworthy soldiers…" Anna's mind reeled, pulling her back to darker moments.
"Is that a yes, ma'am?"
She looked up to find Halldor watching her. "Yes. Yes, Admiral, do what you see fit."
"Thank you, ma'am." Halldor tugged at his arm sling. "There is one more thing I would like to discuss, Your Highness."
"Go on."
"With the Lienz fleet's surrender we've been overwhelmed with prisoners of war. They are currently being housed in a warehouse near the docks. Conditions are not ideal, and it is taking a great deal of food and supplies to house them. With Your Highness's permission, I would like to take a few of their stripped-down ships, load them with as many non-commissioned soldiers and sailors as possible, and send them back to Lienz."
"No."
Halldor frowned at the reply. "May I at least send the wounded back?"
"No."
"Your Highness, the longer they stay here the greater the risk of…"
"If they are not pleased with their accommodations, they should have stayed in Lienz." The chill in her voice could have rivaled Elsa's ability to frost over a room.
"Ma'am, we've no reason to keep them."
"They murdered our people! Why should they get to return safely to their homes and families?!" Anna's heart began to race, blood roared in her ears.
"Might I remind, Your Highness," Halldor's tone took on a eerie calmness. "the Queen promised no harm would come to them, if they surrendered. She promised them safe passage home."
"Then they should pray for her speedy recovery, because I made no such promise." Muscles tightened along Anna's jaw. Deep down she knew Halldor was right. Still, she refused to yield.
"Princess Anna," Halldor held her gaze. "to break the Queen's surrender terms would be a great dishonor not only to Arendelle's reputation, but that of the Queen's. If word were to spread of Arendelle having failed to honor terms of surrender, we would be seen as little more than pirates upon the sea."
"Admiral," Anna sat a little straighter, ignoring the throbbing in her ribs. She leveled a hard glare at him. "those men will stay where they are until the Queen is ready to decide their fates."
"Your Highness, I must…"
"Enough!" Her fist slammed against the table with a solid thud. Pain shot through her hand, bringing with it a fresh wave of anger. She looked to each man as she spoke. "We have been attacked by traitors and thieves. I will not allow them to slink away in the night. The prisoners will stay where they are. I've made my decision." She dared any of them to challenge her. None did. "We've nothing more to discuss. You may take your leave, gentlemen."
Heavy silence hovered over the room. Poul was the first to stand.
The others followed suit, gathering their belongings in silence. Each gave Anna a curt bow before bolting for the door. Halldor tucked a leather satchel under his arm, and stepped to Anna's side.
"Princess Anna, I know you are hurting, physically, and in your heart. For the sake of your people, don't let that pain blind you to a proper path."
She stared at the far wall, unable to meet his gaze. "Good day, Admiral."
His mouth opened to speak, instead he sighed, offering a bow. "Good day, Your Highness."
Walking away, his footsteps faded in the hallway.
As the council room doors clicked shut Anna slumped over the table, pressing the heels of her hands against her eyes. The pulsing ache that had been building in her head grew stronger. Damnit! Damnit all to hell! I can't even run a council meeting without screwing it up. Her head bowed, fingers running through her hair, before digging into the tender flesh beneath. Elsa what am I going to do? Three days. Three days and she hasn't stirred. What if she doesn't wake up? No. Stop it. She's going to wake up. She has too. Tears burned her eyes, she blinked them back, raising her head. She has too. "Kai."
"Yes, Your Highness?" He appeared at her side.
"Help me into the chair. Please." She reached for him.
"Yes, ma'am." He slipped an arm around her waist helping her up. "Would you like to return to Her Majesty's room?"
"Yes, please." She didn't want to go back to Elsa's room. She didn't want to sit and wait, watching as her sister slowly slipped away.
With a grunt, she settled into the chair, taking hold of the tiller. If only she could see Kristoff. She longed to feel the reassuring warmth of his hand in hers, but, that would have to wait as well. He'd gone into town to meet with the ice guild.
She would have to wait for his return. What else could she do? It was what she was good at, after all she'd had a lifetime of practice.
