Been awhile, I apologize for how long it took me to complete this chapter, been dealing with a lot of crap and on top of that; this chapter was a bit of a puzzle for me to write at times.

However before you dive in I have an important announcement to make: I am going to be changing the title because I feel my original title I came up with doesn't speak enough to the plot and content of the story.

But before I do so, I would like to here from you guys what sort of ideas you might have for a title based on what you've read and your own imagination.

Also I liked to listen "Sacrifice" by Sharon Lyons when I was writing this first part.

I eagerly await your responses, anyway, please enjoy.

Chapter 30: Lament

Night fell on Arendelle city and the setting sun was like a blazing fire that slowly died out as it sunk behind the horizon. A gathering was underway outside the city on the grassy hills at the edge of the fjord, perhaps the largest gathering of Arendelle's people in a single place that had been witnessed in centuries. At the water's edge stood queen Elsa, princess Anna, Ice master Kristoff, Olaf, Sven, Lord Aldren, Lord Mane, lady Sol, captain Baldrek, sergeant Barec, Gillian and even Freja. Whatever feelings, whatever rifts, whatever grievances any of them might have towards each other...none of that mattered today. All were here, standing shoulder to shoulder, none smiled...none spoke.

The royal fleet had made it back to the capital without any attack on the open sea and their forces in the south had been successful in their return to the city. Bringing with them the citizens of Hammerhel and any supplies while leaving behind all naga prisoners other than Venereth's brother Meren. Word had already come from Riverview and Hadenville of Naga Ai forces moving towards them as their army evacuated. All of Arendelle had gathered in the capital city, to be kept safe and...to honor the dead.

Hundreds of rafts were positioned along the edge of the fjord, and on each one lay a soldier of Arendelle who had fallen at Ashla's Pike. Soon they would all be sent into the fjord and carried by the water towards the sea, but they awaited one last dead hero. The crowd behind them parted as four soldiers carried the final raft, upon which rested the house Embercrow warrior Krar, his sword grasped in his hands against his chest. As they reached the front, they handed off the raft to Aldren, Elsa, Anna and Baldrek who carefully lowered it into the water. Each taking one last look at their friend before nodding to each other and pushing the raft gently out.

As he would have more than likely preferred in life, Krar led the charge into the next life with the rest of soldiers following behind him. Once all the rafts were some distance away, the four stepped out of the water and a soldier handed a longbow and arrow to the lord of house Embercrow. His sight was set on Krar as he lit the end with a light touch of his hand, took aim, knocked the arrow and drew back. He felt the wind, listened to it, inhale...exhale and release.

Aldren lowered his arms as the arrow soared through the air and struck home on his old friend's raft, setting it ablaze. Soon after Elsa raised a bow of ice while Anna, Sol and Barec took up bows of their own along with a large contingent of archers. Lighting their arrows in nearby braziers and choosing their targets, the arrows hit home and all the rafts were now aflame. As they burned, a choir of vocalist began to recite a lament for the dead men...a slow, hauntingly beautiful, despairing sound.

"How many is that?" Elsa asked Aldren in a low whisper, not looking to him.

"A hundred..."

She swallowed, "And... what were our total losses?"

He hesitated "Were still counting-"

"Aldren...How-Many." she asked firmly, but not truly wanting to know that answer.

He sighed heavily, not wanting to speak it, "Just under five hundred..."

She shuddered, wrenching her eyes shut and biting her lip so hard that it threatened to bleed. Frost began to form beneath her feet, Aldren noticed this and quickly grasped her hand. She squeezed back so tightly that he thought she might crush his fingers, especially as frost coated his hand and forearm as she did, his natural body heat being the only thing saving him from instant frostbite...but he kept hold anyway.

Anna saw and shared her sister's pain and grasped Elsa's other hand, they smiled weakly to each other. Anna then reached down to Olaf who then reached up to Kristoff who rested a hand on Sven's back.

Sol entwined her fingers with her lost and found cousin. She smiled up at him and leaned her head against his shoulder, he let his head rest against hers for a moment. She then reached for her Mane's hand who, though not knowing him, then grasped Baldrek's who linked to Barec who linked to Gillian who hesitantly reached out to Freja, the elder woman did not hesitate.

They all stood in unison, arm in arm, if perhaps only for this one moment they were all united for the sake of the dead and the living who had lost friends, fathers, brothers...and sons. As the blazing sunset disappeared behind the horizon, the lament came to its end and the burning rafts faded from sight, having made their journey out to the sea...never to be seen again. But now there were still many more fallen to send off, they would be here for some time through the night. And the question that bore into the minds of nearly every single person on that front line...What now? What was to be the fate of Arendelle? What was their future when their enemy had all but conquered them...were they lost...?

OoO

A meeting would be held at noon to discuss what should be done next to ensure Arendelle's survival. The evacuees from Ashla's Pike, along with population of Arendelle city were all brought together within the city borders while the royal army established a perimeter around the capital. But their numbers could never hope to match that of the naga and with no wall to shield them, a constant aura of fear clawed at the minds of every human being in the city.

Overseeing the guard on the fjord wall was sergeant Barec, his breath fogging in front of him as he gazed out into the great span of water. Night was still present but it would soon be morning, the gray light of the rising sun in the east revealed a pale mist above the water's surface mixed with light snowfall. Having been locked in this staring contest with the horizon for a few hours, he had become accustomed to the sound of his fellow guardsmen' boots behind him as they patrolled the length of the wall. But now he could hear a new set of feet, slower, heavier and burdened with more armor, he didn't bother to look...he knew who it was.

Baldrek walked over cautiously and stood beside the sergeant who didn't turn his head, "Shouldn't you be overseeing the perimeter defense, captain?"

The north man looked down for a moment before grasping his own wrist and looking out into the fjord with him, "They'll do without me for a little bit."

Barec sighed heavily, leaning forward against the edge, "It feels like it was all for nothing..."

"We rescued people...and-"

"I didn't say it was for nothing!...it just feels like it."

The captain turned back to the horizon, "Right..."

"Don't suppose you have any consoling words for me?"

"No... I've never been very good with talking..."

"You don't do much of it." Barec quipped

He chuckled slightly, "No I don't, but...about what happened at the Pike-"

"Don't apologize, there's no point."

The ginger looked down at the ground sadly, then he felt a hand on his shoulder. Looking back into Barec's remaining eye, it seeming especially green as his mop of blond hair half-covered the scar and pale eye on the other side. "You did what only a true friend would do...what a brother would do." Baldrek smiled back and nodded back, Barec frowned again and looked back to the water, "But Krar...all those men died and Derad is still missing...he may be dead too for all I know."

"He's not dead."

"How do you know?"

"If he were dead, the rest of our people would be too...and they'd have sent us their heads by now."

Barec sighed exasperatedly and rolled his eyes, what Baldrek said was likely true...but it made him want to throw up. "Even if he is alive, it's not as if I have any hope of finding him now."

"Maybe...we'll have to see what queen Elsa says." He placed his hand on his friend's shoulder, "There's still a chance." he removed his hand, "I'll see you at noon then?"

Barec shrugged, "Mm... I'll be there."

Baldrek nodded and turned to leave, but with one foot on the stairs he turned back towards the horizon. The sun was rising, he laughed and called out to the sergeant, "There he is! Spreading his wings!"

Barec looked between him and the sunrise in confusion, "Who?"

"Krar." he said simply before turning away once again and leaving his sight.

Barec looked out to the rising sun; a blur of red, yellow and orange hues like fire rising slowly from the water. Even though he had not known Krar very well or for very long, he recognized the Embercrow expression and knew that the old man had died the way he would've wanted to: in battle and in defense of his country. The young green eyed man laughed a little himself and smiled, "There you go Krar...'Hearts of Fire'..."

OoO

Lady Sol of house Starlon sat on the seat near the window and looked out into the fading darkness, having moved from her bed on the left side of the room, her brother's on the opposite. She wore a blue dress that bore stylistic patterns of ancient Arendellian symbols as well as a white and yellow sun across the chest. Her face was now clean of the grit of Ashla's Pike, her brown hair was held in a lady like braid, though the warrior intensity behind her sky blue eyes was anything but 'lady like'.

She had been watching out the window of her room for several minutes, Mane said he wanted to show her something but that he would have to go fetch it first. Finally, she heard the door of their room slowly creek open, she turned back to see her brother peek his head through the door and smile, "There you are, right where I left you."

She smiled back, "This time anyway." she warned jestingly.

He chuckled, his face dropping slightly as he opened the door all the way. Standing in the entry way in a dark blue shirt and pants, knee high black boots and a silver vest with a crescent moon pendent over his heart, "The naga destroyed many things when they invaded home, relics of our parents, grandparents, ancestors...that can never be replaced..."

She stood and walked towards him, "They were only things Mane, despite fate's best efforts, you and I found each other again...and that is what matters."

He nodded in agreement, then reaching from around the corner of the doorway, "True enough sister...but I made sure they didn't find these."

Sol's eyes lit up and her mouth was held agape in a wide smile as she laid eyes on a spear and round steel shield with wood behind it. Engraved into the steel face of the shield was an angular white and yellow sun and at its center was a single rune: Soloppgang (Dawn), the edge of the shield was sharpened like a blade for slicing and throwing. The spear was as tall as she was, with leather wrapped around the center of the thick wooden shaft, a sharp steel spike for the pommel and a wide, lengthy head with a sickle shaped moon engraving at the base on either side of the blade and in the curve of both moons was another rune: Skumring (Dusk). A pair of weapons that had belonged to their father; Rorik Starlon, lord of Hadenville before them.

She closed the distance between them as he held them out to her, "Father's spear and shield...you saved them."

He smiled as she took them both in either hand, "I had them brought here not long after queen Elsa had left for Hammerhel. I wanted them to be kept safe in case-...when I found you."

"Thank you brother..."

He shrugged, "It's nothing." he then grasped the end of the spear and looked it over as he pursed his lips, "Hmm, tip's a bit dull...but go on and give it a few swings."

Sol didn't hesitate, taking several steps back from her brother and taking a combat stance in the middle of the room; shield held in front with the spear resting over the edge. She poised herself at a ring of invisible enemies that only she could see. She preceded to fend them off; opening with a wide arcing spin overhead followed by a direct thrust to her left. She swung the shield behind her to bat away an enemy attack, then slashing across them with the edge of the shield. The foe to her right apparently charged because she spun out of the way and swung low at their leg as she did, then flipping Dusk around in her hand and thrusting down, loosing a loud war cry and piercing the floor.

She quickly dislodged the spear and hurled it hard in Mane's direction, the weapon sailed past his neck, centimeters away from grazing his skin. Half of the spear tip impaled through the wood of the door with a loud thunk, Mane only flinched because he feared someone might have heard the slight commotion. He shot her a disapproving look, her only response was to grin and shrug.

"Lord Starlon, lady Sol is everything alright?"

Both of their eyes widened in embarrassment and Mane quickly moved to pull the spear from the door, he held it behind his back as if he were somehow tall enough to hide it. A moment later, a green eye belonging to the castle overseer known as Kai peered through the hole that had been made by the spear.

Mane pulled at his collar bashfully, "YES! -Kai, my sister and I were just...training." Sol nodded in agreement, whilst trying to contain her laughter and making no attempt to hide her shield.

Kai's eyebrow raised and his eye darted to the left, "Oh...very well then." as he disappeared they could hear him mutter under his breath, "Isn't everyone anymore."

Sol couldn't hold back her laughter anymore, supporting herself on her knees as she hooted. Mane tried to stay serious but eventually gave in and joiner her, they reached forward and hugged each other as they shared in their moment of happiness. It faded to soft hums as they held one another, then pulling away the young lord Starlon smiled, "Time may have dulled the edge of that spear...but it has not dulled your skills. I imagine even cousin Aldren will be impressed."

"He'll be even more impressed when I take over as Master of War for him." He rolled his eyes, she playfully shoved him, "What? You don't think I could?"

He chuckled and leaned against the spear, "I don't doubt your skill sister, there are few as skilled as you...but I saw Aldren fight at the Pike and-well..."

"Hmph, I guess we'll find out won't we? If we survive all this..."

He put a hand on her shoulder, "We'll survive...whatever path queen Elsa leads us down will see to that."

Sol smiled and nudged him off, "You sound quite taken with her."

He shook his head, "I think I'll leave that to Aldren, but she's clearly a kind person and seems to have a good mind for war. I dare say she is a better ruler than her father before her."

She rested a hand on her hip and scoffed, "Not that it would take much to do that."

"Careful that you don't say that around her majesty...she's not the type you want to upset, ice powers and all." She nodded in agreement, then turning her gaze downward as her thoughts drifted to past events. Mane cocked his head, "Sol, what's wrong?"

"I keep thinking about Krar...I remember seeing him at Hammerhel when we were children. And seeing him again at the Pike for the first time in years-I just...I would've said something to him."

He grasped her free hand, "I know...but unfortunately we can't. We each have to do our duty and move on for the sake of Arendelle."

"I just hope Aldren is doing alright, he knew Krar better than any of us...I missed him and I hope to learn about his adventures away from Arendelle."

"I'm sure you two will have plenty of time to catch up." He handed Dusk back to her, "Though I might suggest not throwing any spears in his direction to start."

"I'll consider it."

They both laughed briefly before splitting to respective areas to finish preparing for the meeting at noon. As Sol sat down Dawn and Dusk she pondered on what path they would be led down. A part of her longed for a fight, she had waited her entire life to use her father's spear and shield in battle and this might be her only chance. But she was sworn to the crown and would follow it to whatever end...the people of Arendelle would always come first and queen Elsa's decision was absolute.

OoO

Anna stared in the mirror, the simple green dress she chose highlighted mixed emotions in her eyes and her angry, rigid face. She braided her hair into the usual pig tails as she was in no mood to do anything more complicated. Behind her on the bed sat Kristoff and Olaf watching her in concern. Olaf, whose mouth would normally be running a mile a minute, was silenced by Anna's apparent frustration. She looked at their reflection; Kristoff's frown and questioning eyes and Olaf gripping his own feet, rocking back and forth and trying to look like he wasn't glancing at her with worry.

Her eyes narrowed slightly before she refocused on her hair, "I know you guys didn't forget how to talk..."

Kristoff searched for words a moment, Olaf beat him to it, "You seem really upset and-"

"I am upset Olaf!"

The snow man looked down at the bed's surface in deep sadness and hurt, Anna saw this and the anger in her face disappeared, replaced by shame at her childish temper. She sighed as she finished braiding and moved to sit on the bed next to them, putting a hand on the side of Olaf's head and pulling him close, "I'm sorry Olaf...to both of you."

Olaf smiled up at her, "It's OK Anna."

Kristoff smiled briefly before his expression became more serious, "Maybe we're not the ones you should apologize to..."

Anna's expression returned to one of irritation, looking down as she scoffed, "What's there to apologize for?"

He looked at her disbelievingly, "Do you really have to ask that?"

"He left us! He left-...he left his family..." she looked down as she said the last words, her voice heavy with emotion.

He sighed and reached for her hand, she looked up at him as he spoke, "Look, I'm not saying what he did was...'right'. But he didn't do it to hurt you-"

"But it does hurt Kristoff-"

He silenced her again with a finger against her lips, "You think it didn't hurt Elsa? You think it didn't hurt all of us when you threw yourself in front of Hans' sword and chose to be frozen forever instead of running to me?"

Anna looked to retort but she was at a loss for words, "I mean-yeah...but..."

"Anna, when we first met-well...let's just say that you left an impression on me. A really weird impression now that I think about it; honestly couldn't decide if I should like you or stay as far away from you as possible." he finished with a laugh.

She smiled and shrugged sheepishly, "Yeah...the whole throwing things, going on about marrying a guy I'd just met like it was 'the sanest thing in the world', almost setting you on fire-"

"Ooh! Don't forget setting his sleigh on fire and dropping it down a cliff!" Olaf interjected.

She held her hands up defensively, "What? I replaced it afterwards with a better one."

Kristoff rolled his eyes and looked to the snowman! "Which, as I remember, was set on fire and dropped off a cliff again."

"Yes but it was lost in the name of a good cause." Olaf nodded proudly, oblivious to Kristoff's slightly accusatory tone.

He chuckled and rubbed the snowman's head, "Yes it was." He then turned back to his princess, "But, back to my point I was making. In the end, I ended up...well loving you. And if you could make an impression on a recluse who hangs out with trolls and reindeer like me, who's to say you haven't done it again-but without the trolls and reindeer..."

She raised an eyebrow, "I see the similarities...and the differences, but what is your point?"

His expression once again was very serious as he took a deep breath, "My point is that I was willing to die for you Anna, if I could have jumped in front of Hans' sword for you...I would have." Anna's face became slightly distressed at those words but he went on, "I don't know as much about Aldren as you do but from what I saw at the Pike, he was willing to do the same for you, for Elsa...for everyone."

Anna exhaled in a shudder, tears beginning to well in her eyes, "I was just-...I was terrified...I didn't know if you and Sven were even still alive. You can't imagine how happy I was to find all of you alive, but when he did that-and after Krar I-...I couldn't imagine losing anyone else..." tears began to run, "I was so Angry! It didn't feel like he did it for us-"

Kristoff cupped her cheek, looking into her eyes, "But-he-did. And he should know that you don't hate him...that's worse than death."

She grasped his hand, her eyes closing as she whimpered slightly. Olaf saw this and stood walking over to her, "It's like I told you 'some people are worth melting for'." he wrapped his arms around her, "And who wouldn't want to melt for you?"

She smiled slightly and pulled them both into a hug. Kristoff kissed the top of her head and rubbed her back slowly, "Take it from two guys who have love expert friends."

Olaf held up a finger, "Uh correction: I am a love expert."

They both laughed, Anna sniffed as she pulled away and rubbed her eyes, "Thanks you guys, and I will, I'll tell him...when I get a chance."

"Good...And also...maybe you could give us a run down on his back story? He's impressive to watch but I really don't know anything about him."

Anna looked uncertain, turning to Olaf who sat and smiled up expectantly. She frowned, "I'll warn you, It's not a very happy story."

Olaf shrugged, "It's a story." he stated simply.

She looked back to Kristoff who nodded, she sighed, "OK...but don't say I didn't warn you..."

OoO

The dim light of early morning began to seep through the windows of the palace as Aldren slowly strode down the halls, as usual he was one of the very first to rise, checking up on the soldiers that kept watch. He knew that they had time before the naga made any moves against the city, but eventually that time would run out and the crimson legions could be upon them. He made his way to Elsa's room to wake her, standing before the door, looking further down the hall towards Anna's for a moment before sighing and softly knocking, "Your Gr-...Elsa?"

"Come in..." a hoarse voice answered.

He turned the handle but the door resisted him, he gave it a firm push that was followed by a harsh crunch. As he slowly opened the door, he was met with a sudden drop in temperature; his breath fogging in front of him instantly. Snowflakes were suspended in the air throughout the space and a thick layer of frost covered everything save for the bed, it looked like an explosion of ice had gone off. He turned his gaze to Elsa lying in the bed under the covers in her nightgown, staring up at the ceiling and holding a small doll in her hands.

Closing the door behind him, he walked over, removing his helm and setting it on the bedside table and tentatively sitting on the edge of the bed next to her. She turned her head to look at him, revealing the dark circles under her eyes and undone hair that was a mane of tangles around her head. And while her expression was neutral, he could see the tears that had dried across her cheeks.

She looked at the icy scape of her bedroom and shot him an apologetic look, "Sorry..."

He smiled, "'The cold never bothered me anyway'...much." he laughed slightly.

For the briefest moment she smiled back before frowning again, blinking slowly she set the doll down beside herself, "It's morning then?"

"It is, I thought it best to wake you ahead of time so you'd have time to think...but it seems you're already awake."

She breathed deeply, her voice becoming more distraught and tears welling in her eyes again, "I've been awake...all night. I keep seeing my failure at the Pike-Krar dying in front of me... I keep seeing it over and over and over again. I wanted so badly for us to win, I led us into that slaughter...If only I wasn't such a stupid, fool!" She cried out into her hands.

He gently grasped her hand, withdrawing it from her face, "Elsa." she looked at him, breathing heavily as he went on. "Our defeat at Ashla's Pike does not rest on you alone, I, your Master of War, failed to see the trap as well. Amicus could have defeated us at any time, but he drew us in with the false promise of a swift victory and then dropped us...so we would break. Our duty, is to make sure we do not. If we lose heart now, then the Witch King has already won and our people are lost. The only fool among any of us...is me."

She sat up and gripped his hand tighter, "Aldren-"

He held up his other hand, "What I said back on the ship was true, how you and Anna would feel crossed my mind before I made that suicidal charge. But I allowed my dread to overtake me once more and I focused on all the possible negative outcomes, like the fool I am. How you felt should have mattered enough to bring me back...You should have mattered more to me than winning..." his head turned away as he said the last words.

Elsa could see the regret in his expression, she scooted closer to him, her voice softer than before, "I won't deny that like Anna...I was angry with you when you tried to sacrifice yourself. But I know you didn't do it to win or to kill youself..." She reached for his cheek and turned his face towards her own, "You did for us, you'd let yourself die if it meant we'd have a future advantage against the Naga Ai. But now I hope you understand, that's not what we want...we want you -I want you to stand beside us, always...even at the edge of hel."

"I will Elsa...but I want you to understand that nothing will ever sway me from jumping in front of danger for you." he said very seriously.

She tilted her head down and looked him in the eyes, "And nothing will sway me from doing the same for you."

"Hel it is then..."

They continued to look into each other's eyes with fond expressions, but before Elsa could even begin to lean in, Aldren cast his gaze downward. She screamed internally, frustrated that he had again denied her what she wanted. But that feeling faded when she saw him grin, releasing her hand and picking up her doll.

He finally realized that the tattered doll was a penguin, with a blue cape around his shoulders, a very large head and one button eye, he chuckled as he looked down at the toy, "And who's this funny little fellow?"

She smiled, picking at the orange strings on the doll's head, "Oh, Sir Jorgenbjorgen...he used to listen to me complain when I was still a little girl. I think I may have scared him with what all I told him recently." she said, wincing slightly.

"Mm, perhaps he'd like to listen to me sometime...then again, perhaps not. He'd be scarred for life by many of my tales."

She looked at the doll, then smiling as she looked back at him, "I think he could take it...just don't tell him anything you haven't told me."

He looked back to her and shook his head, "Never."

Most satisfied with his answer, she scooted closer until she rested against him, stretching a leg across his lap, tucking herself in the crook of his neck. He dropped Sir Jorgenbjorgen and planted a gentle kiss on the top of her head, wrapping an arm around her waist to pull her closer.

Elsa clung closer to him, returning to darker thoughts, "What hope do we have now Aldren? What do we do...where do we go from here?"

Aldren exhaled, "You know as well as I what has to be done Elsa..."

"I do...But I don't know if I can even speak it to you, even less so to everyone else."

He pulled away and looked at her, "I know, it's hard...it's more than anyone should ever have to suffer. But I will help you when you need it as long as you promise me you'll stay strong, because Arendelle needs you to, we need you to...I need you to."

Behind the crimson glow of his eyes, she could see the pain and distress he was holding back. It dawned on her that beneath the surface, he was barely holding it together, she had been so focused on her own pain that she hadn't given any thought to his.

She slipped a hand behind his neck and pulled him closer so that their foreheads were touching, her other hand touching his cheek, "I will, I swear to you I will...I'm sorry."

"For what?"

"For not listening to you, for not recognizing your pain...or your needs."

"You've done nothing wrong, and all that I need-or want rather is..."

She pulled away and looked at him questioningly, "What?"

He hesitated a moment before shaking his head and smiling, "Nothing."

Before she could attempt to pry the real answer from him, he leaned back from her touch and began to stand, "I should go and wake the others."

As he turned away, her hand quickly grabbed his, stopping him in place, "Wait." He turned back to her as she pulled him back down to sit "Stay a moment, not for long but...just for a moment-You can brush my hair..." she suggested with a smile.

He grinned, reaching over to the bedside table and patting the bed beside him. Eagerly she positioned herself to sit next to him, she hummed in happiness as he began to brush through her locks. In between strokes he would gently massage her scalp, in response she would run her hand along the length of his arm for constant contact and closeness. The brushing carried on for several moments until he set the brush aside and began the process of braiding her ridiculous amount of hair. Perhaps for this occasion a braid more fitting of a northern warrioress.

His fingers running through her hair was an all-around soothing and therapeutic feeling no matter what, but as he continued she dwelt on how she would present their plan for the future. It was a horrible reality she had a great deal of difficulty accepting, she couldn't even begin to imagine how Anna would react...They would have to leave Arendelle...

*Gasp!*