Chapter 12: Warrior of the North

06/22/1212

My Dearest Elsa

I write this now while you are still a young girl, fearful but also brave. The burden we have placed upon you is more than any child should ever have to bear. It was not solely for yours or even the kingdom's sake that we closed the gates of our castle and allowed the trolls to alter your sister's memories. We hid you from the rest of the world. For these days are dark and I fear that as the two of you grow older, darker days are still to come.

We know now that you are not the only one with powers, there are others like you across the world and they are being hunted. We had received information from anonymous sources that a shadow is making its way across our world, wiping out any trace of what we have come to be call as Elementals. It was one such anonymous source that gifted me with the book containing this letter, which allowed me to learn more about the world's most ancient past and what may have been our most ancient enemy. At the head of this campaign is a being of great malice and power, he is known as Amicus, The Witch King of the Naga Ai.

A part of me wants to keep you hidden from the rest of the world forever but a greater part of me still recalls the elder troll's words, that "Your power will only grow." Indeed, it grows every day and Arendelle's revelation of your abilities is inevitable. However, I believe that power, your power, may be the very key to stemming the rising tide of evil on our horizon. The moment may come when you must protect your sister, your kingdom and your people, I pray that moment is still in the far off future. For now, my child remain as you are and keep your sister close.

I know that you will have questions, frustrations and confusion and my greatest prayer to the heavens is that I will still be around to answer them. Your mother and I love you Elsa and I know that you may become a greater ruler of Arendelle than I was, for when my days are done you shall become Queen.

Sincerely, Your Father

OoO

Tears welled in her eyes and rained down on the parchment she had discovered in her father's book, this was the most painful thing she had experienced since she'd been led to believe she killed Anna. Resting at the bottom of the parchment was a crimson cloth, its tattered edge hanging from the side. In the very center was another standard: a black Viper's head with a frill of horns around it. Just like the helm of the Witch King himself in the illustrations of the book. Sadness was fading from her heart as she held the cloth in her hand, it was replaced by anger and her hand slowly closed, crushing the cloth and coating it with frost.

The distressed voices of Aldren and her sister calling her name fell upon her ears, though she didn't bother to call back; her sister would know where she was. She looked up from the letter at the two towering stones that marked the graves of Agnarr and Iduna: She and her sister's parents and the departed king and queen of Arendelle. She lifted her hand, resting it upon the cold stone surface. Ice spread from her palm as she leaned her weight against the monument, letting out a heavy sigh, her other hand pinched the bridge of her nose as her eyes closed and her brow furrowed.

She'd come here every so often to speak to them, ask their advice or lay her greatest burdens at their feet. But this time she had nothing to say or offer but the parchment and naga cloth. Her greatest burden was one that her parents had already undertaken...she would not force them to do so again. But if she took this path it could not be alone, and the one person capable of undertaking it with her was bent on leaving it behind. How she had hoped that with time he would change his mind...but time was running out and she could no longer sit and hope. She had to convince him to stay, somehow...

The sound of light, rapid footsteps brought her out of thought and into the now. She turned to see her sister jogging to her with Aldren and a small contingent of guards in tow. Anna stopped to catch her breath before speaking, "Oh Elsa, you had us worried there...are you okay?"

Elsa took Anna's hands in hers, "I'm fine Anna, I'm sorry for worrying you...both of you." Aldren nodded in thanks but remained silent.

Anna noticed the cloth and parchment in Elsa's hand, "What's that?" before she could reach for them Elsa put them behind her back.

Looking toward the ground and then back at her sister, "Anna, might I have a moment alone with Aldren?"

Anna looked back and forth between the two with slight perplexity but smiled anyway, "Oh, uh yeah sure Elsa. I'll just...go see what Kristoff's up to-if he hasn't left for another job already." Anna gave the queen a quick hug, and shot Aldren a friendly smile before walking back to Arendelle. The guards hesitated to leave their Queen, she nodded to them, "It's alright, go with her."

The guards complied, as they left Aldren slowly walked up to Elsa, surveying the two giant stones behind her, "So... who is buried here?"

Elsa replied with great sadness in her voice, "These great stones mark the graves of the departed king Agnarr and queen Iduna...My parents."

"I see..."

Elsa then held out the cloth and parchment to him. He took them, hesitantly opening the cloth, he paused and his eyes widened slightly at the sight of the Naga sigil. He then opened the parchment and began to read, his face changed little except for the slightest of twinges beneath his eyes.

He handed them back to her, his eyes towards the ground, "I'm so sorry..."

Elsa nodded, rubbing her thumbs over the objects, "As am I, my friend."

After a brief silence they met each other's eyes, she swallowed, her voice shakier than before, "My Father died before he could ever give me this, before he could tell me-" she rested a hand over her heart, her eyes closing as she breathed a heavy sigh, "I won't lie to you, I've held a great deal of anger of my own. I resented my parents for forcing me to stay hidden from the rest of the world, keeping my powers a secret from my people...my sister. If I had only known before...all of this."

Her hands dropped, the cloth and parchment fell from her grasp, landing lightly in the grass. "You said to me that when the time came, I would have to lead this army...on my own. And that you, when I am capable... would leave Arendelle."

"That's right." Aldren replied quietly.

She moved a little closer to him, making sure his eyes met hers, "On that day when you intend to move on, to leave us...don't."

His eyes widened, his mouth slightly agape before she continued, her voice wavering a little more, "I'm-I'm sorry that I have to ask this of you...I'm sorry that I'm asking something so selfish of you Aldren. But this is a fight, I don't believe I can win on my own, I can't do this alone...I need your help..."

The two shared total silence as Aldren stared blankly at the queen before his gaze became downcast, and he turned away. Walking away a few paces Aldren reached across his chest, again grasping his right shoulder and stood silent a while longer. Elsa's head dropped low in what she was already assumed was failure.

Aldren's head raised and he exhaled, long and deep, "I'm the one who is selfish Elsa."

She quickly looked up, eyes widening and her breath cutting short in shock and hopefulness. He turned back towards her, his hand dropped from his shoulder and his head was held higher, "I was willing to leave you to fight these demons on your own, because... I was afraid, I am afraid: of loss...because I have lost Elsa, more than you could understand. Paid a terrible price to life that I will never reclaim. Yet...that does not excuse my cowardice, but I will make it right."

He walked back and stood before her, drawing his sword from his back, lowering himself on one knee and placing it before her feet. "If you will have it, I pledge my sword and my life to you. I swear before the kingdom's formers, its current queen, heaven itself that I will carry out your will, do battle with your enemies and share your burdens as long as they are yours to bear. I will fight to protect you, your family and your subjects and if need be, bleed for my homeland...if only this one last time. Elsa, I will fight for you...you-are-not alone." He let his head hang with eyes towards the ground, awaiting her reply.

A momentary shock came over Elsa as he had delivered his oath, it was more than she could have ever hoped to hear him say. Her hands shakily lifted from her sides, the very tips of her fingers rested on his leather shoulder armor. She swallowed and breathed deeply before uttering her next words, "Aldren...of Arendelle, for your actions of selfless valor and unbidden service to the kingdom I name you my Master of War. Charged with the security and military readiness of Arendelle, the training and deployment of troops, and the protection of the royal family...rise, warrior of the north."

Her hands shifted now to grip his shoulders, lightly ushering him to stand. He did so, picking up his sword and meeting her at eye level. She grasped his right hand in hers, ice magic flowed to his index finger and formed and intricate ring that bore the Arendelle crest upon it, "This will serve to show your station to all of Arendelle."

He closed his hand and looked over the ring, "I shall wear it...with pride."

A smile formed on the snow queen's face, she hesitated at first to do what she felt but dismissed it without a second thought. Rushing forward she gripped Aldren's neck in a tight, genuine hug. He gasped in surprise, tense at first, his body eventually began to relax and he hugged her back. Elsa savored the moment and the warmth from his body as she said her next words, "You are no coward Aldren...you are the farthest thing from it."

He sighed, "That...That is very kind of you to say."

She lifted her head from his chest and the two stood at arm's length, her hand reached to touch the side of his face, "I mean it. If there were more people as brave, selfless and honorable as you...this world would be a far grander place."

Try as he might, he could not hide the unmistakable grin as she said these words, now was his turn to speak, "And I know it is disheartening...how difficult it is for me talk about myself and my past...soon hopefully, I will find the courage to tell you what weighs on me, and you will find out more...and perhaps along the way, I will learn to use my power as you do."

"You will." She said with conviction and certainty.

That moment had the slightest chance of turning into something much more intimate for the two, were it not for the sound of sticks and foliage cracking beneath feet that fell upon Aldren's ears. Immediately he put himself between Elsa and the source of the disturbance, with sword poised while she readied with magic gathering in her hands to launch at the threat.

But what came stumbling out into view was no wolf or naga...but a man, a man in a Arendelle guardsman uniform. He stopped, standing wobbly as he saw them, but not for long, he collapsed to his hands and knees. They ran to him, Aldren sheathed his sword and flipped him over gently, supporting his head with one hand while Elsa rested a palm on his forehead just above his scarred eye. The man breathed heavily with exhaustion, he managed only a few words between breaths before passing out. "Riverview is lost...my brother...lost." the pair looked at each other with solemn expression, no good could come of these words and they needed to know more...

OoO

They learned the man's name was Barec, a local guardsmen stationed at the hold of Riverview which resided in the Troll's Pine of western Arendelle. He sat in a chair in the hall with a blanket around his shoulders, shakily holding onto a cup of water. Aldren stood a distance away with his arms folded, Baldrek stood to his right, Elsa stood beside Barec waiting for him to recuperate.

The queen knelt beside the guardsman, warranting his attention, "Barec, what happened at Riverview?"

He swallowed hard before speaking, "The-The snake men, they happened. There was no call for parley, no request for surrender, they just attacked!...a-and those that weren't killed in the fighting..." Elsa gripped his shoulder, keeping him focused. "What? What happened to them?" she asked more forcefully.

He breathed deeply before answering, "Prisoners, including Derad...my brother. And why or for what I don't know."

Her other hand tightened beside her, she then pointed to his glazed over eye, "Did they do this?"

He laughed shakily and shook his head, "No, no your grace, that...that's another story..."

Elsa nodded, rising and turned to the others, "Baldrek, send riders to intercept all patrols and reinforcements and bring them back to Arendelle before they reach their destinations." Baldrek bowed before turning to depart from the room.

"There is something else you should know..." Everyone paused as Barec spoke once more. "The ones that captured my brother and I, they wielded some kind of magic. But not like yours my queen...This was unfeeling and evil sorcery...and they let me go, I didn't escape. The commander who led their attack spoke to another through...a means that I cannot describe, that they wanted you to know about their attack...it's why I was allowed to leave. And they threatened to slay my brother if I did not run back here to the capital."

Elsa looked towards the floor with her arms crossed and brow furrowed.

"Your grace?" Baldrek asked.

"Go, quickly."

Aldren watched Baldrek leave, then looked to Elsa who walked to him, speaking in a hushed tone, "This is getting worse with every passing day."

Aldren nodded, "It would seem that the Witch King is announcing himself, perhaps to challenge you...or to bait you into a trap."

"Whatever his reasons he's attacked the kingdom's hold's and villages, and taken prisoners. I cannot let that stand! We have to do something...can we not do something?" She looked up at him hopefully.

"No. They are not ready, you are not ready...I'm sorry but the time to go to war is not here, we cannot march these troops into a battle they are not trained for, we'll be leading them into a massacre." he said sternly but kindly.

She tried to find some way or reason to argue with him, but accepted defeat in this situation, she had not yet learned the wisdom of war and she knew better than to ignore his experience. Aldren gripped her shoulder softly and gifted the reassuring smile as best as he could. "Rest assured, I will do all within my ability to see your people safeguarded...In due time we will take action."

She returned the smile and squeezed his hand, she was indelibly thankful for his council and his friendship. Just then the door opened once more, the pair turned to see Anna walking into the room, "Hey guys, I saw Baldrek leave like there was trouble...what's going on?" she asked less cheerfully than she would've normally, noticing their somber faces and the guardsman hugging himself in the chair.

"The Naga Ai have attacked Riverview." Elsa stated

"Attacked?" Anna's eyes widened.

"Riverview is the only settlement we've heard news of, but its best to assume that the others: Hadenville, Hammerhel, Ashla's Pike and any other villages in their vicinity are at risk if they haven't already been-"

"Ashla's Pike...?" Anna's face suddenly became filled with horror.

"Anna?" Elsa asked worriedly

"Kristoff and his crew left...to make a delivery...he took Olaf and Sven with him...oh no." her hands covered her own mouth. Elsa's face was of horror as well, Aldren's fists opened and closed as he shut his eyes. He knew now that the situation for the two sisters had become far more dire...