Chapter 1
A/N: Beta'ed by r72666
Updated 05 March 2020
The halls of the castle are filled with people. Dignitaries, heads-of-state, and their accompanying escorts dressed in their accoutrements and fineries, exchange pleasantries and make deals that would dictate the future of countries and kingdoms.
The resounding burst of trumpets serve as fanfare for the Queen. Conversations halt. Heads turn towards the ornate mahogany doors which serve as the entrance to the ballroom. Without a sound, they open, revealing the visage of Elsa. She stands primly, eyes focused at the throne in front of her.
With soft steps, she begins her journey towards her destiny.
All eyes were upon her. Admiration, envy, fear, all part of the swirl of emotions of the people present to witness her rise to the throne.
'And so it begins.'
In a calculated display of her power, mist slowly crawls from swirls of cold and blankets the marble floor behind her.
A sharp gasp cuts through the quiet at the casual display of magical mastery.
She struggles to contain a smirk of mischief. A look to her left shows Anna doing the same.
Her light blue dress, dotted with complex radial snowflakes flows as she walks past. The inlaid crystals glimmer from the arcane glow of ice magic she conjures around her. A snow white fur coat adorns her shoulder, flowing in an avalanche behind her back. A golden medal with a purple ribbon sits on her breast.
A sweeping orchestral hymn accompanies her as she walks towards her seat of power. Lines of the Arendellian Elite Guard line her path to the throne. They lean their enchanted spears in salute. Flags sporting the personal crest of the Queen, the Bernadotte shield engraved with spears in the shape of a snowflake, are tied with golden tassels and hang at the shafts: a veritable tunnel of blades.
She arrives before her Archbishop offers the globus cruciger and the sceptre, signs of her divine right to rule. She takes them and faces the crowd. The elderly clergyman takes the crown from the purple cushion beside him. It was a golden circlet with a single sapphire in the peak at the front. A surprisingly modest crown made at her behest. She has been wanting to add her own touch, and now was the time to do it.
The Archbishop places the crown upon her head.
As soon as he steps back, ice forms around the circlet, creating an elaborate crown of eternal hoarfrost. Clear crystal-like ice shines with mystical energies, highlighting the sapphire at the center. It is enchantingly beautiful.
Elsa closes her eyes, takes a deep breath then exhales. She opens them and in front of her a sea of faces wait in anticipation. Her aristocratic features remain stoic, inside she strengthens her resolve. There is more work to be done.
"My lords and ladies, I present unto thee, Regina Ilsa Bernadotte, the rightful queen of Arendelle!"
Hiccup looks at himself in the full-length mirror. He wore a boot polished to a shine accompanied by an elaborate prosthetic. Complicated springs and mechanisms hide behind a perforated shell engraved with filigree and inlaid with gold. He is unused to his new ceremonial military attire. The all black affair chafes. The weight of the medals upon his chest; the white and red sash around his torso; the rigid epaulets on his shoulders are all so foreign to him. He lays his hand on the ornate sabre hanging from its holster by his side. He fondly remembers forging it himself. Hiccup grasps the handle and rubs the pommel in the shape of a dragon with his thumb.
He chuckles. 'How times have changed.'
A voice calls from outside the door, "Your Excellency, it is time."
He sighs. 'And yet there is still more work to be done.'
He opens the door and steps out.
"Let's go."
With a bow the attendant leads the Emperor of Lofoten to his coronation.
He arrives at a great field at the central square of Berk, the imperial capital. The newly constructed palace casts a shadow upon the assembly.
The thundering of drums announces his arrival.
Arrayed before him in orderly square formation are the nobles and the officers of their cohort. All these men and women stomp in attention. The sound echoes.
A red carpet lines his path towards a throne set up on a dais at the center of the square. It is flanked with ranks of red-coated fusiliers alternating with dragoons armored in their dark breastplates. The fusiliers hold their rifles at the ready while the dragoons stand in attention. The snare drums join in the beating chorus as trumpets provide a heroic melody: a march.
Hiccup steps forward. 'And so it begins.'
With a determined gait, he strides by, rifle and sabre are held forward in salute. His eyes never waver from his goal.
At the dais, the tall form of Stoick the Vast stands tall with the upper echelon of the fledgeling empire. The former viking chief holds back proud tears as he follows his son with his eyes. Beside him is his aide de camp, Craig 'Gobber' Ferguson holding a violet cushion where a golden wreath of laurel leaves rest between his hands.
Hiccup arrives at the dais and the march ends. Stoick looks upon his son and his heart bursts with fatherly pride. Tears that he had held back now fall freely.
"Son…" His father begins. "I am proud of you. Your mother would've been proud of you."
Hiccup smiles. Pride swells in his chest.
"Thanks dad."
Stoick answers with a smile of his own and takes the golden wreath from Gobber. Hiccup tenses and stands in attention. Stoick carefully places the crown upon his head.
Hiccup turns around.
Hiccup has grown from the scrawny, shy boy. He has been hardened by war and understands better the nature of man. He has learned how to motivate his people, how to inspire confidence through charisma.
He uses his knowledge to full effect. He confidently addresses the assembly. The vox blares out, his voice rings in the plaza.
"Today we declare Pax Draconia. Today is a new era. Today, we are no longer disparate clans battling for meager resources. We have invented, we have created. We have endured and now we flourish. It is the achievement and sacrifice of each citizen. This crown is not my triumph but our triumph. We have shaped our own future. WE. ARE. IMPERIUM."
The crowd roars their approval.
The prime minister steps forward. His eyes shining in emotion and patriotism.
"On this day henceforth, we the Empire of Lofoten raise Henry Jormung Glucksberg I of house Draconia as Emperor."
Hiccup closes his eyes as the cheers of the crowd reverberates. There is more work to be done.
The Ice Queen, as she is now known, sits at the head of her council. The minister of Foreign Affairs, a portly noble of some renown named Josef Gronblom, is arguing with the minister of Defence, her friend and trusted confidant, Ingrid Johansson.
"...The best way to resolve this is to have a deterrent against their expansionism! We have to forge an alliance with the empire!"
"Do you have no confidence in our capability to defend ourselves?"
"It is not that madame! I want to avoid bloodshed in its entirety." Josef looks at the Queen. "You must see reason your Majesty."
Elsa clasps her hands together and glances at the nobleman. She remembers that he has sons serving in the military.
"Minister." She begins. "Is this the only way?"
He looks at his liege, eyes resolute. "No your majesty, but it is the path that leads to the least bloodshed."
The queen sighs and closes her eyes, deep in thought. "I'll keep this in mind. Leave me."
Her cabinet stands and readies to exit.
"Anna." Her sister stops and looks at her with wide eyes. "Stay if you please."
She nods and sits back beside Elsa.
In contrast to her usual upbeat self, and unbeknownst to the general public, Anna was the spymaster of Arendelle. In her efforts to be of service to the Kingdom and her sister, Anna dove headfirst into training to become an intelligencer. It ios her desire to keep her family safe after what has happened during their earlier years.
Elsa begins, "So what do you think?"
"Josef has a point, sister. It will be the most efficient way to deal with the Hegemony. At least in the meantime-"
"What do you mean?"
Anna's eyes meet Elsa's
"Right now the Hegemony are a clear and present danger, and though they may show caution against an alliance between Arendelle and Lofoten, they will show no such regards for their other neighbors."
Elsa's brows furrow in thought. She explores the possibility of the Hegemony expanding their territories further east down the russo border. If they successfully capture the Romanov Czardom, they would have enough resources and strategic ports to declare total war against her kingdom.
"What do you propose we do?"
"Forge the alliance Elsa. And start investing in our defense budget. We need to explore the capabilities of your magic and how to use it to defend Arendelle."
"But how can we forge an alliance with Lofoten? What can we offer them?"
Anna grins, "Well I heard the emperor is looking for an empress."
"Anna! I'm serious!" Elsa pouts. The intelligencer sighs.
"Strategically, it would be beneficial for Lofoten to have a buffer against the Hegemony. We can also offer arable land and an exchange in technology. According to my sources, Lofoten's technological focus has been on war due to the reunification efforts of the emperor. Our advances in agriculture and industry outside of the military will greatly benefit them. Also, your magic. Having a powerful sorceress capable of manipulating the weather on their side would be a plus no?"
"All these are true." The queen agrees. "Very well. Send envoys to his Excellency. I would like to start talks as soon as possible."
"By your leave." Anna bows and sets off to make the necessary arrangements.
Elsa turns and looks at the window overlooking Arendelle. She is comforted that Anna voiced out her own thoughts on the matter of the alliance. The mutual benefits between Arendelle and Lofoten are too great to ignore in light of the expansionist south.
Her thoughts drift towards Emperor Henry I and wonders if he'd had a similar meeting with his cabinet.
Smoke drifts up the war room. A single light shines over the table illuminating the map above. Different markers denoting the the Hegemony to the south, the Czardom of Rus to the east, and their neighbor Arendelle stood at their respective capitals. Astrid had her long wheat-blonde hair tied in the traditional manner of the viking shieldmaiden. She stands, arms propping her up as she leans over the table. Her eyes focus on the Southern Hegemony.
"Hiccup." She looks at the newly minted emperor.
"Hmm?"
"You have to make an alliance with Arendelle."
"Hmm."
Hiccup glances at the marker of Arendelle, a figure made of alabaster marble. It is of a woman, hands clasped in front. He steeples his fingers under his chin propping his elbows on the table. The emperor takes a long drag from the cigarette between his fingers, a little invention he concocted after trying tobacco during his travels.
He blew a puff of smoke and looked to his side.
"Fishlegs, care to weigh in?"
"The Grand Marshall is right," referring to Astrid's formal title. "Forming an alliance with Arendelle will serve as a strong enough deterrent to make the South think twice about expanding to our shores. I believe their intelligence network will be a boon for us as well."
"Yes, your excellency." Sigbjorn Ulfsson, the ministry of interior agrees. "No doubt their vast farmlands and technologies will help with our current situation. The wars of reunification have devastated the land of Lofoten, many farms are still without farmers, the infrastructure in ruins. Their support in this area will accelerate the rehabilitation of our agricultural and industrial centers."
Hiccup sighs and rises from his seat. "Very well, send en-"
Three knocks echo in the room. The door opens.
"Your excellency, an envoy from Arendelle has arrived."
Hiccup gives a small, lop-sided grin.
"Well will you look at that. The Arendellians are quite quick wouldn't you say. I will meet them in the green room."
"Very good your excellency."
The meeting was set at a newly refurbished stronghold near the border of Arendelle and Lofoten. It was Fort Skydda. The stronghold was built some years prior to the reunification wars to keep the roving warlords of the viking tribes out. It has been standing in the middle of a valley, a stalwart guardian of Arendelle and has been maintained by the military since its foundation. New battlements have been added with ballistas and cannons facing all approaches to the fortress. As the years passed it has grown from an isolated fortress to a thriving commercial outpost as trade between Arendelle and Lofoten increased.
A separate wing was added on the Arendellian side of the fortress to house different merchants and a marketplace to sell their wares. It was here that the initial Arendellian delegation made its way.
Elsa tucks the hood of her silk cloak further. Even in the frigid air of the late afternoon, she gives the cold no mind, an unexpected boon of her control of the elements. She, together with Anna and the head of her security had decided to have her join the advance group with a select group of guards. It was different from their usual security measures but the subterfuge is necessary in these turbulent times.
This has the added benefit of allowing Elsa some leeway to wander and peruse the wares on display.
A rare smile graces her face as she picks up a pair of earrings from a jeweler. They are modest aquamarine teardrops. The cut of the gems are superb and there are delicate silver filigree surrounding the stone.
"You have an excellent eye for jewelry miss! I picked these up at Berk from a very famous but elusive artisan. They match your eyes quite well."
The jovial man turns on the salesman charm.
"Oh?"
"Go ahead try it on." He smiles and goes to grab a mirror.
She puts it on and looks at herself in the mirror. The glint of the gems matches the hue of her eyes. She smiles.
"I'll take them."
"Excellent!" The merchant takes the earrings and places them in a blue velvet box and wraps it for her in paper tied with a teal ribbon.
She pays him and moves on through the market.
It was a rare thing for her to enjoy this level of anonymity and she takes the time to enjoy it. She walks from stall to stall marvelling at all different things for sale. She is immersed in the ruckus. The hustle and bustle is a whirlwind of sensation. The smell of meat cooking on a rotating spit; spices from different regions; bolts of cloth from the Arab nation; the finest silk from the Qing dynasty, all these put a smile on her face as she basked in the energy of the market.
A rough bump literally jolts her out of her reverie.
"Ahh!" A squeal of surprise jumps from her mouth as she falls to the ground.
"Oof! Ugh, sorry about that miss. I wasn't looking where I was going."
She looked up to see a calloused hand offering to help her up. Her eyes trail to up the arm to the greenest eyes she's ever seen.
"Um… miss?"
"Oh sorry, yes, yes." She flustered as she took the man's hand and he gently helped her up. "Apologies for that I wasn't paying attention as well." She dusts off her dress and looks up to regard the man that bumped into her.
It was now the man's turn to be taken aback. Hiccup saw the most beautiful woman he's ever seen. A heart shaped face framed with a jolt of blonde, almost white hair, expressive blue eyes, a cute pert nose, aristocratic cheekbones, and pink kissable - 'What the hell are you thinking!'
"Are you quite alright sir?" Elsa inquires, brows furrowing in concern.
"Oh uh, s-sorry about that." 'Why am I stuttering?!' He cleared his throat and with awkward agility offered his hand in greeting.
Now at this point it is important to understand that Elsa was raised as royalty since her childhood. In her experience, it is protocol for a gentleman, when meeting a noblewoman to kiss her hand in greeting. In the confusion and due to the sudden butterflies in her stomach, she's forgotten that she's masquerading as Ilsa Bjork, wealthy merchant's daughter. As such she offers her hand as a noblewoman would, forgetting her charade entirely.
On the other end, Hiccup was drilled since his time as emperor to kiss the hand of a foreign noblewomen. With the combination of nervousness and eagerness he too, forgot that he is incognito. He's forgotten that he's Hadrian Thorson, a skilled blacksmith and craftsman looking to sell his wares. He does as he was trained to do in countless hours of etiquette training.
He gently takes Elsa gloved hand, bows, and hovered his lips over the knuckles in a tantalizing simulacra of a kiss.
"Oh there you are! I've been looking everywhere for you!" Anna's exuberant, albeit breathless voice shouts out.
This breaks the connection between the two and they quickly realize what they were doing.
Elsa withdraws her hand quickly and clasps her hands tight in front her, a giggle escaping from her as she does.
Hiccup stands, slouches a bit, laughs nervously, and scratches the back of his head. A habit of his a long time ago when he was still a naive young teenager.
"I-I'm sorry." With that he made a speedy retreat.
Anna and Elsa follow the man with their eyes as he hurried through until he disappeared, turning the corner.
Anna looks at her sister. A soft pink blush dusting at her cheeks. Her sister was biting her bottom lip, fighting back a smile. And did she hear her giggle?! Elsa, Ice Queen of Arendelle. Poised and noble. Sorceress of Snow. Giggling like a schoolgirl. Huh.
"Who was that?"
"Hmm? Oh, I didn't even get his name." She responds still looking towards where the man disappeared. There was a note of disappointment.
Now Anna was even more curious.
"Let's go, the rest of the delegation is about to arrive." She pulls the queen toward the castle.
Elsa nods, but gives one last look as they leave the market.
End of Chapter 1
A/N: Let me know what you think.