Chapter 5: Naga

Elsa walked alongside the guards as they assisted Aldren, he eventually shrugged them off, insisting that he could walk on his own. One thing that had been made abundantly clear about him was that he was stubborn and extremely independent, she turned to her guards. "I'll take it from here, go and help the others."

They nodded and turned back towards the garden, Aldren straightened himself, attempting to appear in better shape than he was. Regardless she held his arm, despite his barely audible, prideful groans. Something he'd come to learn about her is that she could be just as stubborn as he was when she wanted to be. She led him to a guest room where he could stay for however long he needed. Once Aldren reached the bed he gingerly seated himself on the edge and sighed.

Elsa put her hands together. "Well I hope that the room will be sufficient for the time being."

"It's fine...your grace."

She brushed a strand of hair from her face "And thank you for saving my life...again."

"It was not I who dealt the final blow to that monstrosity..."

She didn't disagree but without his help her skull would have been split in two, she decided not to argue with him about it now. She moved a bit closer and put her hand on his shoulder. "Are you going to be alright?"

He shrugged, rubbing his throat where red lines from the naga leader's iron grip lined his skin. "Well I must confess that it has been some time since I've taken a beating...like this-but cuts and bruises...cracked ribs, it's nothing I haven't dealt with before...I just need to rest." He said with attempted humor in his voice.

Her attention was drawn again to the stream of blood trickling down the side of his face, the bleeding had slowed but not halted. Using her powers, she created a makeshift bandage, despite his attempted protest at first she sat next to him and began wrapping it around his head. When she finished he sighed in a bit of relief at the cool wrapping against his skin. "Oh...thank you."

Next she used the sleeve of her dress to wipe the blood from his cheek. "I'm going to have a doctor look over you tomorrow, to make sure that you don't have any 'mortal' injuries."

"I'm tougher than I look."

"Oh I'm sure." she retorted, grinning. "Goodnight Aldren. There are clothes in the wardrobe that should fit." He nodded as she rose from the bed, moving to exit the room.

"Your grace?" She turned back to him and he continued "Why are you really doing this?"

She walked back to him, taking his hand in both of hers. "I will explain my full reasons tomorrow, for now rest... and know that you are welcome here."

She released his hands, heading towards the doorway, but just before she closed the door she added. "And Aldren, I would like to say that... you seem like a genuinely selfless person...I can't help but admire that about you. Such heroism is deserving of a queen's generosity." with her final words she smiled warmly before closing the door.

OoO

Aldren was left alone with his thoughts. He allowed himself to collapse against the bed and press the ice bandage to his head. He was too exhausted to change nor did he desire to leave the albeit, limited safety of his armor, he knew that he'd feel better in the morning. His instincts told him that the very notion of staying here was foolhardy, that he was only putting himself and everyone here at risk...and yet something else was telling him otherwise. He sighed and closed his eyes; he didn't want to dwell on it now. Tomorrow he'd have more energy, less pain and a clearer head...at least he hoped he would.

He sighed whispered scornfully to himself. "Heroism..."

OoO

Elsa paused and slowly released her grip from the handle of the door. She stood there a moment, contemplating the many questions she had, though one stood above the others...Who was he? Who was he really? Beyond his name and his newly discovered power she knew very little else...But getting those answers from him was going to take time. She looked down at her sleeve which was stained with Aldren's blood, she placed the ends of her fingers against it...it was still warm, very warm...

She drew her attention away from her sleeve and focused her mind on the greater problem at hand: whoever this new enemy was, their attacks had increased in lethality...someone really wanted her dead and it seemed they were willing to go to any lengths to do so. She rubbed her forehead and headed towards her study, on the way there she ran into Anna who had been watching around the corner. She had a concerned look on her face."Elsa...I know that you're probably not in the greatest of moods but...What happened out there?"

To Anna's surprise Elsa smiled and placed her hand on her shoulder. "We'll discuss this tomorrow, all of us. For now, I need to find out more about these attackers. The fact that they've struck twice in my own home is more than worrying...I don't think that they simply want to take over a kingdom. I want you to stay close to Kristoff and I whenever possible, they may begin targeting the rest of you to try and get to me."

Anna looked terrified, Elsa recognized this and pulled her in for a hug. "I'm going to figure this out, I'll find a way to protect us...I promise."

They pulled away and Anna smiled and nodded. "I know you will Elsa."

Elsa kissed her sister on the forehead. "Goodnight Anna."

Elsa watched Anna for a few moments as she headed to her room for the night, she then continued towards her study. Closing the doors behind her she sat at her desk, resting her elbows on the surface and putting her hands together she drifted off into thought momentarily.

She rose to scour the library shelf, picking up from where she left off. She had a feeling that she was searching in vain but felt she needed to try at the very least. Eventually her fingers rested over the surface of a book that she did not recognize, it's thick cover was a deep magenta. She pulled it from the shelf, the title was written in the ancient language of her ancestors. She was not as well versed in the language of her forefathers as she wished, but from her limited knowledge she discerned the words 'The World of Midgard'.

She flipped through the pages of the book, half of it was in ancient Arendellian runes and the other was a language she didn't recognize, both highlighted illustrations of various myths and legends of folklore none of which concerned her at present. She came across an illustration that looked familiar: a man lying on a stone slab with frost flowing from his mouth and the dark shape of a troll with his hands hovering over him. She sighed, realizing what it was and the memories it brought back which were...less than pleasant for her, she continued onward.

She crossed another illustration that made her eyes widen and her breath stop short: The image of A Naga warrior, clad in black armor, with a cape trailing behind. Around the dark mask that hid the face was a frill of horns that concealed any human features. And in the middle of the chest plate was a small, iridescent red gem. The figure stood tall and erect and shadows seemed to emanate from all around the illustration as if the figure may yet leap out at her. She was able to translate the few words that were in ancient Arendellian that were written more like foot notes than as actual pieces of the text: 'Witch, king' and what she presumed was a name... 'Amicus.'

She set the book down on the table and sat in her chair. A few moments later there was a knock at her door, she sighed. "Come in."

Through the door walked Gillian, he approached her desk and bowed. "Your majesty, you should follow me."

Elsa could not help but think, 'Now what?'

OoO

Elsa followed Gillian back to the gardens, when they entered and passed by a few guards that remained, she saw exactly what she hoped she would not: the naga leader no longer lied motionless against the castle wall where she had felled him. Elsa grimaced, her eyes narrowed and her fist clenched, Gillian cleared his throat and motioned to their left. "They climbed out over the wall and escaped into the fjord."

Elsa walked up to the wall, tracing her fingers around the large gashes where giant metal fingers had cut into the stone. She slammed her fist against the wall, closing her eyes and pinched the bridge of her nose. "Gillian, double the guard patrolling the castle grounds and set a watch on the fjord walls, I doubt they will try another attack soon after suffering this defeat...but all the same, we should be prepared."

"At once, your grace." he turned to a group of guardsmen and relayed the orders.

"As prepared as we could ever hope to be." She whispered.

After the guards left Gillian stepped closer to her, having heard her. "Your grace, perhaps if our men were trained as soldiers rather than simple guardsmen...such as our current guest, we might be more prepared to deal with threats like this."

She looked up at him. "I know what it is you are suggesting Gillian, the thought has occurred to me as well but...that is a proposal that will have to wait till tomorrow...these things take time, especially with someone like him..."

The older man nodded. "Of course your grace." a small...knowing smile across his face.

She noticed his smiled, turning her head slightly. "Do you...know something I don't Gillian?

He shrugged, and shook his head innocently. She didn't prod any further when he asked her a question that distracted her from inquiry. "Did you learn anything from the library your grace?"

She nodded. "I'll show you."

OoO

They returned to her father's study inside the castle, they stood next to the desk and she showed him the naga illustration in the book. "I think I've found their true leader or at least an illustration of him... this book belonged to my father and it would seem that our new enemy isn't as new or unknown as we thought."

Gillian scratched his chin. "You think that your father knew about these creatures?"

Elsa folded her arms. "I'm starting to think there was a great deal that my father never had the chance to share with me...whether he knew or not doesn't matter now, what does matter is that we at least have limited information on them. But I need to translate the rest of this text to learn more."

Gillian shrugged. "I'm afraid that I wouldn't be much help in that particular area, I'm not what you would consider...'Well read.'"

Elsa chuckled. "That's quite alright Gillian...there's a name as well; Amicus...their leader's name is Amicus."

Gillian grinned and gripped his chin. "He sounds charming and evil and... old...hmm." Gillian frowned as he said this last word

She looked up at him questioningly. "Pardon?"

"Well your grace, it's just that...these are ancient Arendellian runes, as I said: I am no scholar but I do know that these runes are at least twelve hundred years old...and I'm not saying it's true but that would mean that 'Amicus' here is... let's just say he's well past the better years of his life."

Elsa turned the book towards herself again and stared intently at the image before her. Could that really be true? Was she now at war with an enemy that was over a thousand years old, an enemy that once held power in Althgarr...and now had its sights set on her demise and the destruction of Arendelle...