AN: I was going to say something, it was going to be epic, earth shattering. The world would never be the same. But then I forgot what that was so . . . you know. Just insert whatever you want that would fill the aforementioned requirements and pretend it was from me. :P
Sorry for the long wait between chapters. There was a bull and a goat . . . some honey, a tub full of C4. A fluffy pushin kitty. Actually, you know what. It's probably better you don't ask. On a totally unrelated note anyone know how to get embedded shrapnel out of a wall. Asking for a friend.
"No. Absolutely not." Elsa studied the three people standing before her desk. Captains Jogeir and Alarik stood next to her sister, each of them with a determined look on their face.
"Elsa—"
"I do not need a babysitter," Elsa told her sister firmly, intending to end this conversation before it got any further.
Anna had come to her with an idea she thought would be beneficial to all parties involved. Elsa's broken arm would take time to heal, and her sister suggested Captain Alarik could work as her assistant during that time. Elsa had nothing against the man. He'd proven himself both loyal and trustworthy over the last few months, but she doubted this was the sort of posting a military officer wanted.
Anna rolled her eyes and sighed. "If you'd stop being stubborn for one moment. . ."
"Anna," Elsa said sharply. She stopped, pinching the bridge of her nose as she stamped down on the growing irritation. She took a deep breath and tried again, working to keep her tone even. "Anna, Captain Alarik is a decorated Sea Captain. There are far better, not to mention more useful things for him to do with his time than to play assistant."
Anna held up her hands. "Just hear us out. You agreed you need help, right? But it would take too long to train someone." She gestured to the man standing next to her. "Alarik is as good as trained. He knows all the rules and conduct of nobility and for at court, probably better than me—"
"Not sure that's a very high bar."
"Rude, but I'll write it off as crankiness."
"Anna."
"Anyway," Anna pushed forward, "he knows the stuff he needs to, and since he's a military officer, he's already been vetted, so you know we can trust him with any sensitive information."
Her sister's argument was sound. If Elsa wanted to work without waiting for her arm to heal, for her hands to stop shaking, she was going to need help. Alarik was likely the shortest path to achieving that goal. But she couldn't help but buck against the idea of needing someone to accomplish simple tasks. It was another glaring reminder of her own weakness. One more thing she couldn't handle on her own.
Elsa felt her chest tighten uncomfortably, but she attempted to ignore the feeling as she turned her attention to Captain Jogeir.
He dipped his chin. "Your Majesty, I agree with the Princess, though for different reasons."
Elsa didn't trust her voice to remain as steady as she needed in the moment, so gestured for him to continue.
"Ma'am, following your coronation there were . . . rumors of those at odds with your magic. We investigated and found nothing substantial. Though I instructed the guards to keep an ear to the ground, at the time I felt there wasn't a reason for concern.
"Hasvik changed that. We don't know how the people will respond to what happened. Nor to the outcome of said events. My primary concern is to keep those shapeless rumors from turning into something more. Whether it be our own citizens, or foreign visitors."
Elsa dropped her gaze to her desk. She had similar concerns, fear that any genuine display of her magic outside little novelties would spark the same terror her people showed in the wake of her coronation. She was well aware that many believed the summer storm was a freak accident, a result of culminated stress. She had never corrected the theory. The events up North would shatter that belief, and she wasn't sure how people would react when they realized she could cause such a storm again. It was one of the reasons she had denied the Sirma aid.
Elsa took a deep breath, attempting to steady the hammering in her chest. She looked back to Captain Jogeir. "What does this have to do with Captain Alarik working as my assistant?"
"It would allow us to have someone almost constantly nearby who can not only help you with your work, but protect you should the need arise."
"I see." Elsa leaned back in her chair, a sudden heaviness weighing her down.
"Ma'am," Jogeir said in a soft tone, "I understand you don't like the idea of a guard shadowing you so closely, especially within the castle walls. Using Captain Alarik in this capacity gives all concerned parties the best compromise. It would be less intrusive, without sacrificing your safety."
"What about Anna? She is just as much at risk as I am."
"I have talked to Kristoff; he has agreed to train with some members of the guard upon his return. And—" Jogeir gestured to Anna, "—the princess has agreed to an escort whenever she is outside the castle walls."
"But not within the castle?"
"No, ma'am." He shook his head. "It's not that we aren't concerned about Princess Anna's safety. The safety of the entire royal family is and always will be our number one priority. However, at this time, we don't believe there is a risk of her being targeted."
Elsa's eyes flicked over to her sister. "She was in Valle."
"With all due respect, ma'am, she wasn't. You were. The princess was just in the wrong place at the wrong time."
"And you don't think that can happen here in the castle?"
"No, ma'am, I don't. At the moment, the direct line of succession ends with Princess Anna. If something were to happen to you and her, it would leave Arendelle in the hands of a foreign, distant relative who lives miles away across the sea. That would leave Arendelle in a very vulnerable position. We believe anyone looking to do you harm would do so out of some misguided belief that they were doing right by Arendelle. As such, they won't want to do anything that could destabilize the country."
Elsa closed her eyes, suddenly feeling exhausted. She wanted to argue with the captain, with her sister. She didn't want there to be a need for either an assistant or a guard constantly at her side in her own home. But they were both right, their reasons well thought-out. Any further argument would be born out of nothing more than a stubborn unwillingness to see the truth.
She sighed softly. "How long?"
"It's most likely that if someone is planning something, they'll act within the next month or so. By the time your arm heals and you no longer have need of an assistant, we'll know whether there's going to be any trouble."
Elsa considered her words, her gaze shifting from her guard captain to the naval captain. "Captain Alarik, you've been awfully quiet. Would you like to give your thoughts, seeing as you are the subject of the discussion?"
The corner of Alarik's mouth curled into a smile for a moment before he schooled his features back into a neutral expression. "Your Majesty, I agree with Captain Jogeir and Princess Anna. And it is my honor to serve where I am needed."
Elsa pressed her lips together. It wasn't quite the response she had been looking for. "Anna, Captain Jogeir, would you both excuse us? I wish to speak to Captain Alarik alone."
Anna and Jogeir exchanged glances but left the room. Anna shot Alarik a look of sympathy on her way out the door.
Elsa waited until the door had closed before speaking. "You don't have to do this."
"I want to."
"Why? You are a ship's captain. A newly promoted one who hates the customs and courtesies of court. Playing secretary is hardly a step in the right direction."
"Playing secretary to the Queen," he returned. "I'm not sure there is a higher—"
"Alarik, do I look like a maiden easily impressed by pretty words?"
"No, ma'am." He shook his head, having the good grace to look apologetic.
"I will not agree to this arrangement without understanding why."
Alarik rubbed the back of his neck, his tight posture softening. "I messed up," he mumbled. He dropped his hand to his side. "It was my responsibility to protect you and your sister in Sioaskard and instead, I let myself be drawn away and left you and her exposed."
"You don't know that things would have turned out any differently."
"I don't know that they wouldn't have, either. You need assistance, however temporary, and I'm in a unique position to offer that. I have the chance to do right however small it is, I would like to take it."
"Don't you have a ship to captain?"
Alarik shook his head. "As you said, I'm newly promoted. My father's request that I return home came before they granted me a ship. So, at the moment, I do not. Besides, the sea's not going anywhere."
Elsa propped her head on her hand. "I don't want Anna thinking she can use this arrangement to spy on me. However well-meaning she may think she's being. Or anyone else, for that matter."
"I promise I will repeat nothing without your express permission."
She tapped a finger against her cheek. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't find a flaw in this arrangement. There was no reason to refuse when everyone was getting what they needed. She sighed wearily. "Alright."
Anna hurried down the hallway, hoping to catch her sister before her meeting. Today was the day Elsa and the council would present their final judgement to the Sirma and Vindarr, and Anna wanted to be there for it. She was curious as to what her sister had decided. She could have simply asked, but between planning a memorial and ceremony for Olaf, for the soldiers who fought up in Hasvik, and trying to find that feeling of normal again, she hadn't had the chance to bring it up.
That, however, was only a small part of why she wanted to be at the meeting. Anna found herself genuinely interested. She had never paid attention to politics growing up and would never pretend to have anywhere near Elsa's ability in governing a kingdom. She certainly didn't want the responsibility of it, either. What she did want was to help her sister with her duties. She wanted to be able to take over when and if Elsa needed a break. This was her kingdom too, and there were things she wanted to improve and build, things to help the people. To do that, she had to both know and understand her sister's world.
Understanding how their kingdom was about to change was the first step, one she could only take if she caught up with her sister before the meeting began.
Anna sped down the hall and around the corner, only to slam face-first into an unexpected solid mass. She bounced back, and would have landed on the ground if not for the hand on her shoulder, steadying her.
"Your Highness?"
Anna looked up and smiled at Alarik. "I was looking for Elsa," she said, cutting straight to the point in the hopes that if the Captain wasn't in the meeting, then her sister hadn't made it either.
Alarik stepped back, revealing her sister standing only a few feet away. "I think you found her."
Elsa's eyebrows were raised. "Anna? Is something wrong?" she asked softly.
Anna brushed imaginary dust off herself. "No, nothing is wrong. I was just—" she bit her lip, feeling a sudden rush of nervousness. She knew Elsa wouldn't deny her a place at the meeting. More likely, she'd be ecstatic to hear of Anna's interest, but that didn't stop her from worrying. She didn't want Elsa or any council members to think this was just a passing fancy, or some sort of childish want. She wanted to be taken seriously. Anna took a deep breath. "I was hoping I could attend the meeting as well?" She bit back a wince when what was a statement came out as a question.
"With the Sirma and Vindarr?" Elsa tilted her head to the side. "Any particular reason why?"
Anna was unsure how to put her thoughts into words that wouldn't sound tangled and messy. After a moment, she settled on a simplified version of the truth. "I'm interested, and I think it would be useful to know what is going on."
Elsa studied her for a long moment before she nodded, a hint of a smile pulling at the corner of her mouth. "I couldn't agree more."
Anna felt as though a weight had lifted from her chest, not just from Elsa's acceptance, but the smile she had managed to put on her sister's face. It struck her how rare Elsa's smiles had become over the past few months. She would have to make it her personal mission to draw it out more. Elsa held out her hand and Anna closed the distance between them, wrapping her fingers around her sister's.
They started back down the hallway toward the council chambers. A quick glance over her shoulder let Anna know Alarik was following close behind, a stack of papers held safely in his grasp. She offered him a smile, which he was quick to return. Anna was elated that her sister had agreed to Alarik's assistance. There was comfort in knowing that if someone tried to attack, or if Elsa pushed herself too hard working, someone would be there to protect her. Someone who genuinely cared about Elsa as a person rather than just as Queen.
Anna let her shoulder bump against Elsa's. "How are you feeling?"
"Tired," Elsa answered. "But otherwise, okay."
Anna nodded, satisfied with the truthfulness of the answer. "And the nightmares?"
Elsa pressed her lips together, her gaze skipping across the plush carpet.
Anna's stomach knotted at her sister's silence. It was more confirmation than anything Elsa might have said. "I thought the point of the sleep aid Malthe was giving you was so you wouldn't have any more nightmares."
"It is. It works." Elsa's fingers tightened around Anna's. "For the most part. But . . ."
"But?" Anna prompted.
"There's this one nightmare that always seems to break through." Elsa's voice was soft, distant.
"Do you wanna talk about it?"
Elsa shook her head. "No, I mean, there's nothing to really talk about?" She frowned. "I don't really remember anything about it. I just. . . I know it's the same one."
Anna leaned into Elsa. "What if—" she hesitated, then took a deep breath, knowing the worst Elsa could do was say no. "What if you talked to Pabbie?"
Elsa's gaze snapped toward Anna. "Pabbie?"
"If you can't remember the nightmare, maybe Pabbie could help?"
Elsa's gaze slid away, a wrinkle working its way across her forehead. "Maybe . . ." She took a deep breath and let it out slowly, her gaze sharpening. "But that's a thought for another time. After this meeting, at the very least."
Anna tried not to fidget in her seat, but even as a child, she had difficulty sitting still for long periods of time. It had been a point of frustration for both her parents and tutors. She wasn't nearly as bad now, but would much rather be on her feet walking around. Anna idly wondered if she could convince her sister to hold future meetings in the gardens. Fresh air would do the stuffy old councilors a world of good, and the size of Bjarke's gut told her some walking would be equally beneficial.
She was relieved when she entered the council chambers and the councilors did nothing more than give her a curious glance as they bowed and took their seats when Elsa did. She wasn't sure what she expected, maybe looks of disapproval, like she shouldn't be here. Which, now that she thought about it, was ridiculous. She had every right to be in these meetings. The only person who could decide otherwise was Elsa, and she was clearly pleased that Anna had wanted to come.
Anna straightened and drew her attention back to the Judge, who was reading aloud from a long document. Most of it was legal jargon she only had a very basic grasp of. She knew enough to avoid being traded to another country for lemons, but not nearly enough to write her own laws.
Judge Westberg lifted another thick piece of parchment from the stack in front of him and cleared his throat. "As decreed by Queen Elsa of Arendelle," he read, "with the surrender of the Sirma and the Vindarr by their respective leaders, the aforementioned people, their lands, and their property are henceforth territories of the Kingdom of Arendelle.
"Each state will have a Baron appointed over them. Taxes will be collected and paid to the crown. Their people will not be granted citizenship, but any individual person may petition the Baron of their respective area to petition the crown for citizenship.
"Each respective country may maintain their cultural and religious traditions and practices. However, the enslavement or capture of any spirits, magical beings, or otherwise, is strictly prohibited and is punishable by death without trial. Infighting or taking up arms between the Sirma and Vindarr or against any Arendelle soldier will be seen as treason and rebellion, and will be dealt with accordingly."
Anna glanced over at her sister, who was, as always, the perfect picture of a Queen. One would be hard-pressed to believe that not that long ago she teetered on death's door. But despite the outward appearance of graceful confidence, Anna knew there was a storm brewing. This was the last thing her sister had wanted. The acquisition of land would not reflect favorably to the wider world, and there was no telling how they would react. Especially if word got out how she had used her magic in the Sirma's battles.
Still, Anna felt that, considering everything the Vindarr and Sirma had done, they were getting off easy. Tribal nations being absorbed into a much larger, stable kingdom while being allowed to maintain their own cultural identity had the potential to be of significant benefit to them. Assuming they didn't try to pick a fight with each other, that is. Or Arendelle. Anna couldn't help but wonder what Elsa truly thought about this arrangement, about these people who had essentially tortured her becoming a part of Arendelle, and therefore her responsibility. Elsa must have considered a dozen options before arriving at this one.
Judge Westberg signed his name on the parchment, then slid it over to Erik. Anna hid a wince as she took in his still bruised eye. The Sirma leader signed the document without hesitation, then handed it to the Vindarr leader, whose name Anna couldn't for the life of her remember. Not that it mattered.
The man looked over the document, his face pinched. He looked up at Elsa. "What happens if I don't sign?" he asked, in a voice not nearly as steady as he likely hoped.
Elsa pressed her lips into the thin line, studying him for a moment before speaking in an even but deliberate tone. "There is a sizable contingent of our soldiers occupying Hasvik. The Vindarr's army is there, locked in its dungeon. We confine your people to their living quarters." She paused, allowing the words to sink in. "What do you think will happen if you do not sign?"
It took monumental effort for Anna to keep the shock from her face, hearing her sister offer such a threat. She didn't feel at all sorry for the Vindarr in question, but hearing Elsa say such things was a testament to exactly how much they had put her through. And how serious she was about not allowing such a thing to happen again.
The Vindarr leader dropped his gaze without another word and added his signature. Alarik walked up behind him, taking the parchment and placing it in front of Elsa, who signed and stamped it with Arendelle's seal.
She stood, stiff and silent, and each person in the room stood along with her. After Elsa exited the room, Anna paused only a moment before following her sister out.
