Chapter 2: New House, New Enemies...
Aldren hurried to the house that he'd rented in the city, keeping his head low and his steps steady. He stepped in and quickly shut the door behind him. He was careful to observe the small interior of the rental house; a bed, desk and a bathroom, the basic necessities and that's all that he needed.
He set his pack down by the desk and pulled off his cloak, laying it on the back of the chair. He sat down, leaned over and ran a hand over his head as he sighed, nursing his now very persistent headache as he processed everything that just happened. What he just saw, what the queen did, she was...He didn't know what to think entirely...but this changed nothing, he'd continue to keep a low profile until he was ready to move on. He had a unwelcome sense that his interactions with the queen were not yet over if she had her way, he would need to move quickly...she didn't need to know anything else beyond his name, for his sake... and her own.
OoO
Anna walked with her sister down the halls of the palace, "So he just sorta 'swooped in' and saved the day?"
"More or less," Elsa replied with a small laugh. "Some assistance was required on my part...but if he hadn't been here when they attacked I..."
Anna dreaded to even think of that, "Right..."
"He was an amazing fighter, his skill with a sword... I truly have never seen anything quite like it. But I also feel there is more to him than is revealed by first appearances, I need to find out exactly why he's here and if he has any relation to the attempt on my life."
"Elsa I don't think he'd try to kill you and then save you, it wouldn't make sense."
Elsa nodded, "Perhaps not, but even so we need to consider all the possibilities...we have been deceived before."
Anna sighed, knowing exactly what and who Elsa was referring to, "I know."
"For now I'll go and have a... discussion with one of our guests."
They stopped and Anna bid Elsa farewell with one of her very tight signature hugs. Elsa walked away in the opposite direction, she had a feeling that this 'assassination attempt' would reveal itself to be something more complicated than any of her current theories. The painted walls of the upper levels faded into stone bricks as she descended to the dungeons below. Small lanterns provided a dim light in dark corridors, the only other time in her memory there was ever anyone in these cells was when she herself had been imprisoned here by prince Hans. Now as she arrived she could see two guards at each cell, she spotted one of the assassins sitting on the floor with his arms in chains and helmeted head slumped in shame.
One of the guards approached her and, unlike the others he did not wear a hat. He was an older man past the better years of his life, short graying hair and a beard covering most of his face. His eyes were a faded blue that appeared almost gray. He was a slightly rash and sarcastic man named Gillian who had what could be described as 'a surprising amount of sass for his age.' He was the closest thing the royal guard had to a leader though he held no official rank, his truest passion and profession was as a blacksmith and though Arendelle hadn't seen a major conflict in over two decades, Gillian's steel had never failed the royal guard. He had served under her father before her and continued to serve the royal family to this day.
He bowed to her. "Your majesty."
She nodded. "Have any of them said anything?"
He shook his head. "I'm afraid not your grace, they don't seem to be in a very talkative mood. But who could blame them when they failed their mission...though the two on the end are probably the most... interesting. I'm guessing the big one with the horn on his helmet is their leader."
"How can you tell?"
He smirked. "He's the biggest."
Elsa's eyes cut to the side in thought for a moment, she then nodded and followed him past the other cells, she could hear growling and chains being pulled on and shaken as they neared. She recognized the two in the cell; the large warrior that she knocked out was struggling and pulling against his chains in a fit of rage despite his extensive injuries received in the throne room. The other was average size and clutched his arms, scooting into his corner at the sight of her through the bars. Gillian unlocked the cell door and Elsa stepped inside with two guards following behind, she looked between the two and approached the more aggressive one; the elaboration of his armor and more distinct markings cued her that Gillian's assement had been correct.
She felt an air of confidence received from her actions in the throne room that remained with her as she stood a distance away with her arms to the side. The warrior lunged forward, held back by his chains just a foot from her face, he pulled against them in vain but let loose one last defiant roar. She stiffened, her fist clenching but made sure not to flinch, narrowing her eyes she folded her arms and began her interrogation, "I suppose I'll start with the most basic question: who are you and why did you try to kill me?"
The brute snarled, turning away back towards the wall, "I have nothing to say to you, aesir gath!"
Elsa drummed her fingers against her arm momentarily, saying nothing she waved her hand and the wind forced his helmet off. The warrior grunted as his head was jerked to the side to reveal a hairless scalp. His low growl made the guards behind her tense slightly. He turned back towards her walking forward into the light to meet her gaze what she saw made her eyes widen: pale skin, even more so than hers with barely visible scale like patterns on the scalp and neck just below the jaw, his canines were revealed as curved pointed fangs. Yet the most disturbing feature were the yellow irises with a dark slit down the middle...like a snake. And yet for all these features the being before her still appeared human in most aspects; not necessarily ugly...but not beautiful either.
The sight of this creature made her step back, she kept her expression as neutral as possible but her mind was already beset by more questions, she asked the most obvious one...albeit with hesitation, "What...are you?"
The creature let out a low growl, "I-am-naga and my name...is Dane. And we would have taken your head had it not been for that miserable wretch who interfered!"
Elsa looked down at the floor thoughtfully, she had a feeling that there was nothing she could do to persuade this brute to cooperate at the time. Blinking, she then turned her attention to the other who hid in the corner, she used the wind to pull him out into the light. As he cowered she knelt in front of him and gently removed his helmet with her hands so as not to frighten him further. His face held terror and pain, he had been the one whose arms she froze and though he had tried to kill her she could not help but pity the being in front of her. Some features were similar but his head had short black hair, his eyes were blue and his ears, oddly enough were pointed.
Gillian who was leaning by the doorway chuckled at the prisoner's unusual features, "Of all the fairies I've ever seen; you are most definitely the ugliest."
The naga narrowed his eyes and hissed at Gillian, Elsa hadn't known Gillian long but she'd picked up on his tendency to take most situations more lightly than most would. She addressed the soldier, his arms still frozen from their encounter, "And what is your name?"
He replied hesitantly. "Meren..."
"And what can you tell me about your attempt on my life and who sent you?"
He swallowed but before he could reply his superior did for him. "Because you're in the way..."
She didn't turn back. "I wasn't talking to you." she stated firmly, before gesturing to the other to continue.
He sighed. "To kill you is to remove the greatest resistance..."
"Resistance to what?"
The naga replied, his words were less enthusiastic than one might expect based on their meaning. "Invasion...Reclaiming what is rightfully ours, returning it to its true master; our...king."
Elsa was already speculating who might be behind this attack, considering this she continued. "And... who is your 'king'?"
Before he could reply the other naga pulled against his chains, shouting something in a language she didn't understand, "Na innsibh dha rud sam bith!"
It was directed at the naga she was interrogating, growing tired of his interference she rose and turned, outstretching her hand, forcing him against the wall with wind and bound him against it with ice and creating a muzzle of snow to keep him from interrupting further. She turned back to her current subject with some fury in her eyes. "I'll ask one-more-time...Who-sent-you?" she demanded with her voice raised and finger pointed towards him.
The blue eyed creature shook his head. "That...I cannot say; as hard as it may be for you to believe... I fear him more than you." his eyes despite being foreign and unfamiliar held the truth.
Elsa folded her arms, she then waved her hand and the ice on his arms dissipated. Turning away she walked out the cell, the guards locked the door behind them. Meren exhaled in relief and rubbed his arms watching his kinsman who sighed underneath his muzzle in defeat as his feet dangled above the floor and found he could not break free.
As Elsa left the dungeons to return to the upper levels, a few names came to mind such as prince Hans and the Duke of Weselton, both were possibilities. But the naga had said 'King', neither of her known enemies were kings and last she knew of Hans: he was shoveling horse manure in his older brother's stables every day since he was sent back to the Isles. Yet there was something else to consider; these attackers were not 'human'. Granted she'd come across other sentient being that were not human before; trolls and any creature she conjured but that was all. It was reasonable to assume that the leaders were not human either... 'Naga' they called themselves, that was the only lead she had but she would use any available resource to uncover the truth...
OoO
Kristoff led his reindeer Sven through the city streets away the palace having just returned the woman he currently courted: princess Anna. He was in the middle of recounting the fond time he had spent with her when he saw something peculiar, someone quickly walked by him from the direction of the palace. Their face and body were concealed by a hooded cloak and the hilt of a sword protruded off from their right shoulder. Kristoff wasn't sure what it meant but seeing an armed individual leaving the home of his beloved and her sister gave him an uneasy feeling. He decided, perhaps against his better judgment, that should follow them and see where they were going. Whoever they were they seemed to be in a hurry which only added to his suspicion's. In any case...he could handle himself.
He saw the stranger enter a house on the east side of the city which was rather modest in comparison to the rest of Arendelle, in fact it was actually well for lack of a better word...run down. Kristoff decided the best thing to do was knock on the door and introduce himself, their response could help him get a feel for the kind of person they were.
He walked up and knocked, no one answered so he pushed the door slightly and to his surprise it creaked open slowly. He turned to Sven. "Stay here buddy, I'll be back." The reindeer gave him a concerned glance but waited patiently as Kristoff slowly entered the house.
He winced slightly as the floor boards creaked softly as he stepped inside the apartment, the room was empty for the most part, on the desk however he saw something of interest. A cloak was hung on the back of the chair and several objects were laid out on the desk; a small metal rod, a crossbow, a dagger and a large two handed sword.
The sword was of particular interest, he reached out and picked it up, it was incredibly light despite its size. Looking over the straight, shining blade which was smooth and flawless save for the strange markings engraved in its surface towards the base that were in a language he did not recognize that lead to the cross guard which was lined in black steel sheets that appeared as black autumn leaves. The hilt was wrapped tightly with dark leather around the lengthy grip, the pommel was composed of the same black sheets in a similar style. He put it back on the table and decided that he should probably leave.
A voice from behind startled him, "It's rude to touch other people's things without their permission."
Kristoff quickly turned to find nobody there, the sound of ringing metal drew back his attention; the longsword had disappeared from the desk. He was caught completely off guard as his feet were swept out from under him, as his back hit the floor, a foot was planted in his chest soon after. He opened his eyes to see a menacing, lightly armored figure holding the sword to his throat, "Who-Are-You..." the voice demanded.
Kristoff was speechless and terrified, the voice repeated louder and angrier than before, "I'll ask again, Who-Are-You!"
