AN: Thank you as always for all those who review, I am sorry I don't respond to the reviews, if you want me too I will be more than happy to do so. Everyone's wonderful words always make me excited to write more, so thank you so very much. I hope everyone enjoys the chapter.
Anna's hand lingered against her sister's forehead as Elsa's labored breathing evened out in sleep. She waited a few more minutes, making sure Elsa was truly asleep, then sagged against the wall with a sigh of relief. Her sister still felt hot, her face flushed like she was fighting off an illness, but she appeared to be resting peacefully and deeply. Anna folded down the blanket and lifted Elsa's right arm, careful not to disturb the sleeping woman, and laid on top of the covers, where she could easily see the cuff encircling her wrist. If something happened or changed with the cuff, she doubted there was anything she could do anything about it, but she wanted to visually reassure herself that it wasn't doing more than pulsing with the faint glow she'd grown somewhat used to. It was no more than a false sense of security, but she felt better for it.
Anna stood next to the bed, at a loss of what to do from here. Elsa was sleeping, and likely would be for hours. At least, if Anna had anything to say about it. She toyed with the idea of getting some sleep herself; she was tired, wrung out, and wanted nothing more than to curl into a ball next to her sister and pretend the last couple of days hadn't happened. But she felt anxious and didn't think she could sleep if she tried. She wasn't sure she even wanted to try, with Alarik still in the woods and the cuff doing whatever it was to her sister, she was worried that if she dropped her guard for even a moment, something would happen that she wouldn't be there to stop. It was a ridiculous thought; there wasn't anything she could do now, awake, standing in this small room of the fort. She was completely helpless to do anything to change their current situation.
Anna paced restlessly around the room, her hands clasped and fidgeting in front of her as her mind raced, feelings and thoughts bounced around senselessly, grappling for attention but slipping away too quickly to grasp any single one. She came to a sudden stop in the middle of the room, shoulders slumping as she threw her head back and released a quiet growl of frustration. She hated this. She had never been good at sitting still and waiting, unlike her sister, who seemed to have an endless supply of patience. Anna liked to be moving – she needed to be moving. She wasn't built for stillness.
A pained sound from behind Anna drew her attention. She turned to see that while Elsa was still asleep, she was growing restless, her pale face scrunched in discomfort as she shifted atop the thin mattress. Anna covered the short distance and sank to the bed next to her sister. Careful not to wake the older woman, she gathered Elsa in her arms, drawing her close. She began to hum softly, brushing her fingers through her sister's hair. Elsa stirred once more, then settled with a soft sigh, her face smoothing out in deep slumber.
Anna laid her head back against the wall. Now that she had finally stopped moving, she could no longer ignore the heaviness of her own eyelids. She let them slip shut, telling herself that she would only rest them for a few minutes, just until she was sure her sister was resting peacefully.
Minutes, or perhaps hours, later, Anna startled awake. She had no idea how long she had slept, but she felt better for it. She looked down to see Elsa still sleeping, seemingly deeply, her head resting against Anna's shoulder. A hollow thump at the door reminded her what had woken her in the first place. She carefully slid from behind her sister, settling her against the pillows, then made her way to the door. She opened it slowly, only to have surprise and relief wash over her as Rune brushed past and made her way directly to where Elsa was sleeping. Rune jumped up and laid her wide head across Elsa's right arm and stomach, one large paw draped over her waist.
Her sister didn't so much as stir at the new presence, and Anna didn't know whether to be relieved or worried. For now, she chose to set that aside, she looked back to her sister once more, confident that she could leave Elsa in the care of the large snow leopard. She slipped out of the room, closing the door softly behind her, and walked quickly down the hallway to where it led to the courtyard. She felt relief loosen her chest as she saw the figure making his way through the courtyard. Even from a distance, she could see the same relief light up his face.
His steps quickened as he closed the distance between them. "Thank god. Are you both okay?"
Anna nodded, taken aback by the urgency of his question. "Yeah," she assured him. "We had a run-in with some Sirma, but we're okay." She swallowed thickly, remembering with nauseating clarity the wet crack from her swung branch connecting with the back of the archer's head. The way he went down and didn't move. She pressed her hand to her forehead, feeling slightly faint, and understanding why her sister lost her lunch after the fight in the longhouse. She hadn't seen what had happened after she got Alarik and herself out of that building, but she'd seen her sister pierce the guard's wrist with ice, and felt that was more than enough.
"I had just started circling back toward the fort when Rune shot off like someone had set her tail on fire. By the time I caught up with her, I found the remnants of what I assume was that run-in as well as two other Northmen that Rune made quick work of."
Anna started. She hadn't realized there were more Sirma in the woods then and was suddenly that much more grateful for Rune's presence and connection to her sister. If there had been a second confrontation in the woods, there would have been no real way for them to defend themselves.
Alarik frowned and looked around the courtyard. "Where's is she?"
Anna gestured toward the little room she'd come from. "Sleeping. Rune is with her."
"How's she doing?"
Anna wrapped her arms around herself, her fear and concern quickly bubbling to the surface. "She said she's just tired but . . . " She shook her head, trying to bite back the panic and helplessness that she'd been fighting to hold back. Now that she had started talking, it felt like a floodgate was opening. "After the fight with the Northmen, something happened with the cuff. Even after she stopped using her magic, it was still glowing, and seemed to be causing her pain. She said she's fine now, but she has a habit of downplaying her own discomfort, so I don't know if she is or—" A lump clogged Anna's throat. She and Elsa had only been reunited for a few months, and they were still learning how to be sisters. Now, it felt like there was a very real chance all of that could be taken away from her. She didn't know what she would do if something happened to her sister. Even when they were separated, she had been able to comfort herself with the fact that Elsa was there, even if a door stood between them.
Alarik wrapped his hands around her arms and squeezed tightly. "We'll figure this out, Anna. Your sister is a strong person."
Anna averted her gaze, her eyes watering. "She shouldn't have to be. She's been through enough."
"I'm afraid it might get worse before it gets better." Alarik dropped his hands away, pressing his lips into a tight line. "We have a bigger problem than we originally thought."
Her eyes widened as she nodded. "Elsa seemed to be thinking the same thing. I really hope you're referring to the same problem, because I think we have met and passed our quota of things that can go wrong."
He winced, and Anna got the sinking feeling they weren't referring to the same issue at all. She chewed on her lower lip, glancing back toward the direction of the room where Elsa was currently sleeping. She knew they'd have to wake her up and discuss what was going on, to decide on their next move, but it had only been a few short hours and Anna wanted to leave her sister to sleep for as long as possible. She turned back to Alarik to find him staring at her, a thoughtful look on his face. "You look like you could use a bath."
Anna narrowed her eyes, feeling like she should be insulted by his words. Should be, if it wasn't painfully true. She wrinkled her nose and instead of arguing, offered a reluctant nod.
"I mean no disrespect, of course, Your Highness," he added with a crooked smile. "I was merely thinking that before we disturb your sister, we could take the, however brief, calm in the storm to clean up a bit. Perhaps get some rest, ourselves."
"And patch the wound in your side?" Anna asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Yeah, that as well."
She hesitated but couldn't deny that a bath sounded heavenly. Their current situation would still be there after, and maybe a little easier to face after a hot bath.
Waking felt like a chore, like pushing through thick layers of cotton that seemed to have been stuffed into Elsa's skull while she was otherwise unaware. Her head was pounding, her stomach was churning, and her thoughts were slow and sluggish, like pressing through molasses in the dead of winter. She knew she should wake up but couldn't remember exactly why it was so important that she do so. She was about to give up the struggle and allow herself to fall back into the comforting abyss when something touched the side of her face. She flinched.
"Hey, it's okay. It's just me."
A hand brushed across her forehead, gentle fingers pushing her bangs back. Elsa leaned into the touch as she worked her eyes open, blinking to clear her vision and pull the blurry figure above her into focus. "Anna."
Her sister smiled encouragingly. "How you doing?"
Elsa frowned, her gaze slipping away from her sister's as she looked around the small, stone-walled room, allowing a long moment for the events of the last two days to catch up with her. She slipped her eyes closed once more as it all flooded back. She felt groggy and slow, but nowhere near as tired and drained as she had when she and Anna first reached the fortress. She pressed her fingertips against her forehead and attempted to organize her thoughts. "How long was I out?"
"Just a few hours. Sorry to wake you."
"No, it's fine." Elsa absorbed that information and opened her eyes, planting her hands on the bed and shoving herself up to lean back against the headboard. A dissatisfied rumble at her side had her pausing her movements long enough to realize that Rune had been using her as a pillow. She couldn't help but smile as she brushed the top of the snow leopard's head, then pushed further up in bed until she had managed a seated position. She turned her attention back to her sister. "Did Alarik make it back?"
Anna leaned back, allowing Elsa to see past her. Seated at the table next to the fireplace, the man in question offered a small wave.
Elsa nodded, and the motion rebounded painfully in her skull. She closed her eyes and pinched the bridge of her nose with a groan, trying to clear away the muddiness in her mind. "I don't suppose you brought any coffee with you?" She felt like she'd been drugged, and while she wouldn't put it past her sister do such a thing, given her condition, she was fairly certain there hadn't actually been a need. Elsa had been more than exhausted enough to sleep without any extra help. Not that she would admit to as much out loud.
The silence in the room stretched on, disappointingly so, and just as Elsa opened her mouth to say something, the unmistakable aroma of strong coffee filled the air. She drew one eye open and found a steaming cup in front of her. She looked up to see Alarik holding the mug, and she accepted it gratefully, wrapping her hands around the warm cup. She blew lightly across the top before taking a deep drink. "Mmm." The coffee was hot enough to scold her tongue, but it was glorious and was already helping to clear away some of the cobwebs muddling her brain. "Remind me to knight you when we get back to Arendelle," she said, taking another drink.
From her side, Anna snorted. "Congratulations, Alarik," she said as he returned to his seat. "You have discovered one of the Queen's two greatest addictions."
"Really? And the other one?"
"Work."
Elsa rolled her eyes but ignored her sister in favor of enjoying the coffee that was already going to work easing her headache and clearing her mind.
Alarik tilted his head. "I don't actually think you can be addicted to work?"
"Oh, you should see her schedule," Anna persisted. "The other day, she worked from six until ten, and actually had to schedule personal time. Which was only fifteen minutes." She shook her head in amusement. "I'm pretty sure she thinks that she will wither away if she's not working."
"I can hear you," Elsa said, leveling a mostly playful glare at her sister. "I'm tired, not deaf." She rested the half-empty cup in her lap and straightened. "And I think there are far more important things we should be discussing right now."
"See," Anna said, raising her eyebrows at Alarik. "All work. Also, cranky when she first wakes up."
Elsa sighed, pressing her fingers to her forehead. "You are the worst."
Anna smiled brightly, and Elsa wasn't sure whether she wanted to laugh or shove the girl off the bed in some childish play at revenge. For the moment, she opted for neither.
With the tension in the room suitably broken, she took the opportunity to enjoy this easy, calm moment before it had to be dashed with talk of the very real danger they were still facing. Finally, with her thoughts in order and her head not pounding quite so fiercely, Elsa broke the silence. "Alarik," she said, "you were posted here a few years back, yes?"
"I was," he confirmed. "Almost a year before Arendelle went to war in defense of an ally. And then again about a year after it."
Elsa nodded. "Do you remember how many soldiers were posted here?"
Alarik looked up at the ceiling as he sorted through the memories. She appreciated the time he was taking to give her the most informed answers he could. "It was a full battalion before we were deployed. We – we lost a lot of men, more than half the unit. When we returned, they were never replaced. At least not while I was here. I would say we were down to just under half a battalion by the time I received orders to go south." He looked across the small space to where Elsa was seated on the bed. "I assume you're not asking out of curiosity."
"There are less than a hundred soldiers here," Anna supplied.
"There is supposed to still be an entire battalion," Elsa added, sipping the remainder of her coffee. "And according to the report I received a few months ago, there was."
Alarik frowned. "You think someone has been falsifying the reports?"
Elsa set her empty cup aside on the bedside stand. "If they have, they've been doing so for years."
Alarik pressed his lips into a thin line. "There are a few different reasons someone might lie about the number of soldiers they have. Normally, I wouldn't jump straight to disloyalty . . ."
"But?" Elsa's chest tightened and she had the distinct feeling that she was not going to like what he was going to say next.
"In the woods, not too far south of here, there is a Northmen encampment." He hesitated before adding, "I wasn't sure how they managed to get past the Sioaskard fortress, but—"
"If someone high up here is disloyal to the crown, then it's possible they were snuck past the border," Elsa finished for him. She pressed her hand to her forehead once more. All of a sudden, their already complicated situation had been made all the more complicated. "If we try heading back to Valle now, there is a good chance they could ambush us along the way. But if we stay here . . ." There was truly no good option for them.
"They don't know who we are," Anna spoke up. "I mean, I tried to tell them, but they didn't believe me. Maybe that could work to our advantage."
"Maybe," Alarik said slowly. "It depends on how many are involved. If it's just a few people, then we should be clear. But I know some of these men. I fought beside them, and I don't think they are the type to turn against their country in favor of whatever these Northmen might be offering."
Anna looked between him and Elsa. "So, what do we do?"
Suddenly, they were both looking to her for an answer she felt too tired and worn to give. But she had a job to do, a duty, and people would always be looking to her for answers. To make the hard choice, to appear far more in control then she ever truly was. Elsa took a deep breath as she pulled her shoulders back and lifted her chin, slipping into the role of Queen. "I need paper and something to write with."
Anna immediately hopped to her feet to look around the room, finding something in a drawer from a desk that Elsa hadn't before noticed was tucked into a corner of the room. She accepted the items from her sister and scribbled a quick note against the surface of the nightstand, signing it with the signature she affixed to all official documents. She folded the paper and held it out to the snow leopard lounging at her side.
Rune lifted her head, trapping the paper gently between her teeth before jumping off the bed. Elsa started to get up but was stopped quickly, Anna putting a hand on her shoulder and gently pushing her back into bed.
"No, stay." Anna said simply before crossing the room to open the door for Rune.
"Woof," Elsa muttered as Rune bounded out of the room. She leaned back against the headboard.
Anna shut the door behind the snow leopard and turned back to Elsa with a questioning look.
"I gave Rune a message to take to Captain Jogeir," Elsa explained. "Letting him know what is going on here at the fort, and with the Sirma. It shouldn't take her long to get down to Valle. Hopefully, the Captain can gather what men are there and make it up here to the fort by tomorrow afternoon. It may not solve the problem at hand – problems," she corrected herself, "but alone, there isn't much the three of us can do, and I don't know who here we can trust."
"As long as they don't know who you are, we may be safe until Captain Jogeir arrives with men," Alarik agreed. "But that means you are both going to have to stay in this room until then."
Elsa's shoulders slumped as she reluctantly nodded. She hadn't exactly planned on taking a stroll around the fort, but after thirteen years of being confined to her room, the thought of not being able to leave a single space made her skin itch. But she knew why it needed to be done; it was too great a risk that someone would recognize either of them. If they were, news of the Queen and Crown Princess being in the fort would spread like wildfire. And with questionable loyalties on the table, there was no way to know just how bad, or how quickly, that could turn.
"Well, then, I'm glad I was able to take a bath earlier," Anna said happily.
Elsa narrowed her gaze at her sister, suddenly feeling uncomfortably grimy with dirt and dried sweat. She looked down at her rumpled clothes and flicked a bit of clumped dirt from her sleeve at Anna.
"Hey," her sister complained, brushing away the dirt as it landed on her lap. "Unlike you, I'm clean, and I would like to stay that way."
Elsa glared at the girl, tempted to drop a huge pile of snow on her head despite what it would cost her. She decided against it, for now. "Speaking of clean," she said, gesturing to Anna's clothes, "what are you wearing?"
Anna was still wearing her own boots, but in place of the grey wool traveling dress she'd had on earlier, she now wore a pair of loose black woolen breeches and a white tunic with a thick navy wool shirt over top, tied at the waist with a black sash. "Alarik found it for me since my clothes were pretty dirty." She looked down at herself. "What's wrong with it?"
"You look like Kristoff."
Anna lifted her nose in the air. "I take that as a compliment."
"You would," Elsa replied playfully. In truth, the outfit looked comfortable if anything, and though she wouldn't admit it, she was jealous of her sister, longing for a bath and change of clothes herself. Sometimes, it was the simple things. Feeling Alarik's gaze on her, she turned to their quiet companion across the room. "You look like you have a question."
Caught in the middle of obviously deep thought, Alarik startled, then pulled himself up in his seat. "Your Majesty—"
"Elsa," she interrupted, correcting him.
"Elsa," he repeated, with a dip of his head. "I was just wondering...how are you doing?"
"I'm fine," Elsa said quickly, the words flowing out like a well-versed lie.
"No." Alarik shook his head, her gaze narrowing. "How are you really feeling."
She could feel both Anna and Alarik's eyes on her. Elsa rolled her lips against her teeth, considering. As much a dent as the nap and coffee had put in her exhaustion, her mind was still slow-moving, and she could feel the cuff seeping away her energy little by little. "Better than when we first arrived here," she said finally. She just needed to sleep a little longer, and then she was sure she would be fine.
Anna wrinkled her nose. "Considering the fact that someone had to help me get you into this room, that's not a very high bar." She cocked her head, adding, "in fact, if that bar was any lower, you'd trip on it."
"Hilarious." Elsa deadpanned, though her gut tightened at the thought that she had been completely unaware of someone assisting Anna in carrying her. Just a few more hours of sleep, she told herself again. I'll be fine.
"If we can figure out what the cuff is doing," Alarik spoke up, keeping them on track, "maybe we can get it off."
Elsa nodded, shifting her arm to look down at the cuff. "The runes along the edge of the stone," she said, her finger brushing lightly over the metal engravings. "I wasn't sure at first – it's been a while since I last saw it – but I think they're connected to the Landvættir."
Anna leaned in closer to inspect the stone for herself. "The who?"
"Landvættir," she repeated. "The literal translation is closer to 'Land Wrights', but they were believed to be nature spirits during the time of the Vikings." Her fingertip glided toward the symbol in the center of the stone. "I think this symbol here is a bindrune, a combination of ancient runes, but I can't make out which ones. It looks like it might be incomplete."
"You seem to know a lot about the subject," Alarik remarked, sounding impressed.
Elsa lifted a shoulder. "You would be surprised how much reading you can do during thirteen years of isolation."
Alarik had the good grace to look contrite.
"It's very old magic," Elsa said, shaking her head. "But I don't think..." she said slowly, her fingers ghosting over the cuff. "I don't think it's working correctly."
Anna's eyebrows raised as she looked over at Alarik then back to Elsa. "What do you mean?"
Elsa squinted, thinking back on the last two days and the sensations she had felt while using her magic. "I think it's absorbing my magic," she told them. "The power I use. The brighter the stone glows, the more magic it absorbs."
Anna looked down at the dimly glowing stone. "Elsa," she said, waiting for her sister to meet her gaze.
Her tone was firm and urgent in a way that was rare for the younger girl, and Elsa knew exactly what her sister's next question was going to be. She braced herself for it, knowing Anna wasn't going to like hearing the answer any more than she liked giving it.
"Is it absorbing your magic right now?"
Elsa quickly dropped her gaze, pulling her lower lip between her teeth. She didn't want to lie but she wanted to protect her sister, wanted to keep Anna from worrying about things she couldn't help. At the same time, she was painfully aware that she couldn't hide this. It might hurt them all if she did. She looked up but didn't respond, knowing that her silence was just as much an answer as anything she could have said.
Anna shook her head. "Why didn't you say anything?" she asked harshly, jabbing at Elsa with a finger.
She wrapped her arms around herself. "I didn't want to worry you," Elsa said in a low, regretful tone.
Several emotions chased each other crossed Anna's face before she seemed to settle on one. She leaned forward and placed a hand on Elsa's bent knee. "Elsa, you can't always protect me."
The corner of Elsa's mouth lifted in lopsided smile. "I can try."
Anna's shoulders slumped as she sighed. A moment of heavy silence sat in the room before she said, "you said you don't think the cuff is working correctly. Why?"
"It's absorbing my magic as I create it," Elsa answered honestly, "but it doesn't seem to be able to absorb at anywhere near the rate I can create it. Which means that while it may take some extra effort, I can still use my magic." She resisted the sudden urge to rub her eyes. Her body was beginning to feel heavy again, as though whatever energy she had managed to build up during her few hours of sleep was quickly dissipating, leaving her feeling worn-out and drained.
Alarik, who had been wisely staying silent while the sisters had a moment, drew the attention of the room back his way. "That doesn't seem very useful for what the Sirma want," he said. "If you can still use your magic then it's harder to keep you under control. And the drain caused by using your magic would make it problematic in a full-scale battle. Either way is a loss for them."
"There has to be more to it." Elsa looked down at the symbols on the stone, searching her mind for dusty information she had read years ago.
"You said the stone can't absorb the magic fast enough to keep you from using it, right?" Alarik pressed forward.
Elsa nodded.
"Oh." Anna perked up, interrupting Alarik before he could continue. "Maybe you could overload it?"
Alarik smiled at Anna. "Exactly. Feed the stone more magic than it can handle, and we might be able to break it."
Elsa tightened her arms around herself, staring into a middle ground as she considered what they were suggesting. "Maybe," she said slowly. "Since I can still use my magic, it creates a sort of—" she searched for the best word, "—spillway for the stone, like on a dam. But if I try to contain the power while building it, it might be possible. But . . . I can't do that here, in this room."
Anna frowned. "Why not?"
"I have a feeling that the amount of magic it would take to break the cuff will not be insignificant. If I start building up that much magic while also trying to contain it? When it's finally released . . ." Elsa shook her head. "I won't be able to control it then, and it will come out all at once."
"Can't you just..." Anna waved her hand in the air.
"Dismiss it?" Elsa asked, raising an eyebrow at her sister.
Anna nodded. "Yeah, you've done that before when you've gotten upset or overwhelmed."
"This would be different." Her eyebrows drew tightly together. There were things about her magic that she'd never explained to anyone before. Not because she didn't want to, but because she didn't know how to put them into words, these things she just instinctually knew. Elsa took a deep breath, feeling as though she owed it to her sister to try. "This wouldn't be a result of emotions, it would be purposeful, and a lot of power. I—" she pressed her lips into a thin line, feeling a rare flare of frustration over not being able to find the correct words to explain herself.
Out of the corner of her eye, Elsa saw the stone on the cuff flare brighter too, for just a moment. She drew in another deep breath. Her frustration was causing her to feel anxious, and her magic was responding in kind. She hoped that she was the only one who saw the stone, but a quick glance at Anna's face told her that her sister had noticed as well.
Elsa sighed, her shoulders slumping. "I don't know how to explain it. You will just have to trust me."
"It's possible we could get out of the fort unseen and go into the woods," Alarik offered. "There are a few unused passages throughout the fort, and I doubt many people know about them. If we stay close, we shouldn't have to worry about the Sirma."
"No." Anna said firm, looking from Alarik to Elsa. "I want to get that cuff off as soon as possible, but I think we should wait for Jogeir and his men. I know you are trying to pretend you're fine, but you're exhausted, I'm tired, and I'm sure Alarik isn't faring much better. If something happens to you while trying to break this cuff . . ." she trailed off, clearly not wanting to finish the thought. "If we wait for Captain Jogeir, at least there will be people here we can trust."
The stubborn part of Elsa wanted to try and rid herself of the cuff immediately, but the sensible part knew that her sister was right. She was exhausted, and there was a chance she wouldn't even be able to build up the amount of magic that would be needed to break the stone. If she tried and failed, it would take her out of the game completely, one way or another, and leave Anna and Alarik defenseless and alone inside a fort full of people with questionable loyalties. That was something she couldn't allow. Elsa dipped her head and released a breath. "Okay."
Anna rolled her eyes, throwing her hands into the air. "Elsa, you are the most stubborn—wait, what?" The tirade she had clearly been preparing was halted in its tracks as her sister's unexpected answer caught up with her racing mind.
"I said 'okay'," Elsa repeated softly, an edge of resignation coloring her tone. "We'll wait for the captain before trying anything."
Anna tilted her head and narrowed her gaze. "And you'll rest? Here in bed, till then?"
A small chuckle brushed past Elsa's lips. "Yes, Anna. I promise I will stay here in bed and rest. Actually rest. Eyes shut and everything." She had already put her sister through enough; she could at least give her this.
"Good. I think." Anna squinted, studying Elsa's face. "Honestly, I'm not sure whether I should be happy that you are finally listening to me, or even more worried."
"How about," Elsa said, "we convince Alarik to find a bowl of hot water, so I can at least clean up a little bit? And then we all get some rest."
For being built into the side of a mountain, Sioaskard Fortress was quite large. It was also very old, constructed of stone blocks mined from the mountain it was built into.
A stone bridge connected the fort to the main road, stretching over a deep gulch that ran perpendicular to the road before turning to disappear into the surrounding woods. There were two doors one had to get through to access the fort: a small portcullis that stood at the very front of the structure, and a much larger, thick wooden door built into the main wall. Sioaskard had multiple levels. The very bottom floor sat underground, containing the dungeons and storage areas for both foodstuffs and equipment. The second level held mostly soldier's rooms and barracks. The third and main level of the fort housed a large open courtyard. On the northern side were the dining area and kitchens, while the southern end had stables and extra rooms used for meetings. These room were also used as sleeping quarters for visitors of Sioaskard.
Alarik was currently sitting in one of these rooms, warming himself next to a small fire. For a fraction of a moment, he considered leaving the sisters and sleeping instead in the soldier's bunkhouse. He ultimately decided against it; the bunkhouse was a level down and, for obvious reasons, he didn't want to leave the small royal family unprotected.
Originally, he had tried sleeping in one of the chairs, but Anna had told him that under no uncertain terms was she going to allow him to sleep in a wooden chair, pointing him instead to one of the two beds in the room. He reflexively opened his mouth to refuse, but she wouldn't listen. Instead, she snuggled into the other bed next to her sister, who seemed both amused and perfectly content with the arrangement. The older woman raised her gaze and informed him, with a roguish smile he hadn't realized the Queen capable of, that he had been outvoted.
He had managed a few hours of sleep, but it was restless at best. His mind wouldn't stop racing, thinking back over the discussion from earlier. Alarik was most troubled was the thought that the men here, soldiers he had fought side by side with, could possibly be committing treason. There was a chance they were completely off the mark, that the false information regarding the number of soldiers stationed here had nothing to do with the Sirma encampment in the woods. There were plenty of passages in the mountains that one could sneak a company through, if they were brave enough and prepared. The Sirma were a tribal people, and far better suited for such a task than most of those living in Arendelle. It wasn't unthinkable.
He looked over to the occupied bed, where the Queen of Arendelle slept deeply with her younger sister tucked against her side. He'd had to remind himself a couple of times during their earlier discussions about just who it was he was talking to. There were times it was easy to forget the amount of power held within the woman, and other times it was difficult to remember that she was a normal human, with the same fears and insecurities as everyone else. Well, as normal as a Queen who can shoot ice from her hands could be.
Anna on the other hand, the Crown Princess of Arendelle, was no less complex than her sister, though she was far more open and at ease with herself. He could see Anna – younger sister, Princess of Arendelle – in everything that she did. Unlike her older sister, she didn't seem to feel a need to hide any particular aspect of herself from the world. She had been the same way when she visited Valle as a child, and though Alarik could see she had matured with age and experience, he was happy to see that part of her had not changed.
Alarik dragged a hand down his face, considering attempting to get more sleep, when a knock on the door echoed through the otherwise silent room. Elsa groaned at the intrusion of the sound, her face scrunching up as she shifted under the covers, before smoothing out once more into sleep. He quickly rose to answer the door before a second knock woke her fully.
He hesitated at the door. He didn't know exactly what time it was, but he knew it was very late, and he couldn't think of any reason someone would be calling on them at this hour. Alarik grabbed his sword, not wanting to be caught off-guard. When he cracked the door open, he was greeted with a familiar, unexpected face. "Aaren?"
The man smiled widely. He had been one of three soldiers who had come out into the woods for him at Anna's request. But Alarik knew him from before, when they fought together in the war, some of the lucky few to make it back home. Afterward, Aaren chose to stay in Valle rather than move south when the opportunity presented itself.
"Hey," Aaren said in a soft voice, mindful of the dark, quiet night. "I was hoping I could drag you out into the bitter cold to share in my misery as I patrol."
Alarik snorted softly, stepping out into the cold hallway and closing the door carefully behind him. He folded his arms across his chest in an effort to stave off the chill. "Well, you drive such a hard bargain."
"I have mead," Aaren said brightly, holding up two bottles. "It's the good stuff, too. Nabbed it from the commander's stash."
Alarik narrowed his gaze at the bottle, remembering times in the past when they had done the same, and then remembering the amount of trouble they got into for it. He glanced back at the closed door. There had not been so much as a hint of trouble since they entered the fort, and this was the first time since they arrived that anyone had even come to them. He decided he would keep it short – just a quick walk. Maybe it would help clear his mind and allow him to get some sleep. Besides, it might be helpful to ask someone living in Sioaskard what was going on. He sighed. "Let me grab my coat so I don't freeze to death."
He slipped back in the room, laying his sword against the wall as he picked up his coat. He heard something shifting on the bed behind him and turned to find Elsa digging her knuckles against her eyes. Light sleeper, he noted.
"Alarik?" she asked, sleep slurring her voice. "Is everything okay?" She blinked at him, dropping her hand back to the bed.
"Yes, ma'am," he replied softly. "I'm just going to step out for a bit. I'll be back shortly."
Elsa frowned at him but nodded. She settled back against her pillow, yawning widely as she tucked her sister in a little closer. She quickly relaxed as she fell easily back into sleep.
Alarik slipped on his coat and tied his sheath to his belt, slipping the sword into place. He stepped back outside and shut the door quietly behind him, then reached out to grab the bottle from Aaren. "If you get in trouble with the commander, I'm not saving your hide this time."
The man laughed as he led the way down the hall and into the fort's large courtyard. The snow was still coming down in thick, fluffy flakes. Aaren directed Alarik toward the stairs that led to the fort's high exterior walls. The walk was filled with the easy conversation of two old friends catching up. It wasn't until they reached the first watch tower that Aaren stopped.
He turned to Alarik. "Hey, can I ask you a question?"
He shrugged, drinking from his bottle. "Sure." The dark, snowy world shifted lazily around him, and his lips tingled, slightly numb. Alarik looked down at the bottle of mead, wondering with muted embarrassment when he became such a lightweight.
"How did you manage to end up all the way up here lost in the woods—"
"I was not lost," Alarik insisted.
"Sure," Aaren ceded. "But in the company of the Queen and her sister?"
Alarik's gut twisted at the other man's words, and he debated how to answer. He could deny it outright, but Aaren had never been a dumb kid. "How'd you know?" he asked.
Aaren rolled his eyes. "Please. I'm nowhere near as dumb as Knut. Just because he didn't want to believe the princess when she told him who they were doesn't mean the rest of us were blind enough to think the same."
"The rest?" Alarik cast a wide-eyed glance back toward the courtyard. "How many know?"
Aaren shrugged. "I'm sure a decent amount have heard about it by now, though only the handful who saw her know she's here. So, maybe no more than four. And, of course, the commander. Everyone else just thinks it's one of those rumors, since not many have seen her, and you'd expect a little more fanfare for the Queen."
Alarik frowned, feeling ill at ease. If the commander knew Elsa was here, then why were they still being lodged in a tiny room? Why hadn't the commander come down to meet with her, as would be expected? It didn't matter how humble she was or what she was there for, when the ruling monarch came to visit, you didn't ignore them or pretend they weren't there. He knew Commander Lee to be far smarter than that.
He thought back to the falsified reports, the Sirma encampment, and suddenly he was filled with dread. "I should head back," Alarik said, keeping his voice calm and even. As he turned on his heel, the world tilted roughly to the side, and he tipped with it.
A strong hand caught him, steadying him. Alarik looked down at the drink in his hand then raised his questioning gaze to Aaren.
"Look," his old friend said, "you saved my life back in the war. I'm really sorry."
Alarik tried to push away from the other man, but his legs had turned to jelly. "What did you do?" he asked in a harsh whisper.
"Consider us even now."
It was the last thing Alarik heard before a rush of black came up to meet him.
