Imprisonment.
The council was willing to dispose of her, place her oldest daughter on the throne, and imprison her sons in order to get what they wanted, branding her a traitor. The thought spiked her heartrate, and she forced herself to remain calm, for the sake of the child growing within her. After a moment, she slipped out of bed, going to the window; the beauty of the northern lights overhead brought her a sense of calm she'd been struggling to find since Lord Bismarck had revealed the council's plans. Absentmindedly, she stroked her hands back and forth over her belly, feeling the babe shift within her at her touch.
"You do more good for Arendelle than your council has; they are old relics of former rulers, Majesty. Fresh blood is needed, fresh blood that will not necessarily bow to your every word, but will give good opinions and are willing to see Arendelle progress beyond what she is. You are ushering in a new age, Majesty, just as you are bringing new life forth. Arendelle is thriving under your reign; if you allow your council to continue like this, Arendelle will suffer. Sometimes, Your Majesty, old blood must be spilled in order to usher in a new age."
"Such as France?"
"France took it to the extreme. Look at the Colonies. Sometimes, independence can bring about wonderful new things. And if that means spilling a little blood, then so be it. You said it yourself, Arendelle does not forgive traitors."
She sighed. Arendelle does not forgive traitors. For all his inexperience, Lord Bismarck was correct, and what the majority of her council had done was betray her. An example had to be set-
But could she really do it? Could she go the route of Mary I or Isabelle of Castile? Could she really shed blood like the Tudors did so easily? But the majority of those were for religious reasons- Mary I burned heretics at the stake, and Isabelle of Castile brought about the Inquisition; both were in the name of religion. The Tudors spilled the blood of traitors to the crown- it was needed. Every so often, blood must be spilled and traitors dealt with. He is right, you must set an example. Besides, the people had had enough of the council- for it was the council who tied her hands in regards to economics and healthcare and education; they preferred to keep the masses uneducated and downtrodden, while she wanted to raise them up, educate them and bring a new age for her people, a stronger age.
Give them wheat and they will make bread. Give them seeds and they will grow gardens. Give them love, and they will return that love tenfold. She swallowed, closing her eyes, her mother's words loud and clear in her head. Her mother had been strong; her mother had been loved and adored, as she herself was. Her mother had made it a point of going out among the people, talking with them and experiencing how they lived- from visiting schools to farms and shops, talking with them and understanding the issues they were plagued with. It had been her mother who had pushed her father to push for the creation of vaccinations of smallpox when the outbreak had hit in eighteen-thirty-five. Her mother had gone to a hospital on the outskirts of the city, seen the children and adults suffering from it, contracted it herself, and nearly lost her life to it. She had been scarred from it, the marks decorating her cheeks like the darkest of freckles, but they didn't take away from her beauty- if anything, they made her all that more beautiful.
She had not had the chance to go out among the people as often as her mother had, though she had gone out, but given that she'd been having babies the last seven or so years-
"They certainly are beautiful, aren't they?" She glanced over her shoulder as Hans sleepily slid his arms around her waist, resting his hands against her belly. He nuzzled just beneath her ear, pressing a sleepy kiss to her neck, before turning his gaze to the skies above.
"The sky's awake, so I'm awake."
"Hmm." Silence fell between them for several minutes, before he spoke again. "Come back to bed, darling. You need your rest."
She followed, climbing back beneath the blankets, but was unable to shut her mind off. Sitting up, she turned to him, reaching over to run her fingers through his tousled hair. "Hans?"
His green eyes opened, and he looked up at her. "Yes, Eliza, my love?"
"What would you do, if you were in my situation?"
"I would get rest, because our child is growing inside you, and you need to be strong for them."
She snorted, tugging gently but firmly on his hair. He jerked back, glaring at her. "I don't mean the babe, dearest."
"You mean the issue with your council?" She nodded; he yawned and sat up, pulling her hand from his hair. "I think Bismarck his right." He had listened that evening as the young councilman had explained what the council was planning, and his suggestions on starting over. "They've sat on your council too long, and if you force them to retire, they could just build forces against you. Making an example of them will set the record straight."
"But spilling blood, Johannes?" She tucked her legs beneath her, cradling her belly. "I do not want to be thrown into the likes of Bloody Mary Tudor or Henry VII. I am not that type of ruler."
He sighed, propping himself onto his elbow and reaching out to caress her belly tenderly. "You aren't, Eliza. But the only way you are going to gain the upper hand is to show force and set an example- that those who go against the crown will suffer the consequences. Besides, the people would support it, wouldn't they?"
She looked down at their hands, cradling their child as it grew within her. "The last time I was out among them... they are suffering, Johannes. No matter the good I do, no matter the boosts to the economy, the jobs I create, the education I give access to, they are still suffering. I spoke to Helena yesterday; her older sister passed in childbirth, taking the babe with her. They did not have adequate care enough for her, and yet I have birthed three healthy children because I am of royal blood and can afford the best. It is not fair; no mother should have to pass in childbirth because the doctor or midwife attending her is not trained well enough. But if I brought such suggestions of good mothering care to my council, they would brush it aside, citing my 'female whims and mothering worries.'" She rolled her eyes. "I have every right to be worried; Helena's sister and her child were my subjects, they were my people. And I have done nothing to help them. If that had been me in their position-"
Hans sat up, pulling her closer, resting his forehead to hers in comfort. "I know, my love. I know the fear her husband felt, because I have felt that same fear whenever your time comes. It doesn't go away, no matter how many children a woman bears. They're not just whims and worries, they're problems that must be solved. And dealing with your council will be the start. Once you remove those in your council who have betrayed you, only then can you bring about true change."
He kissed her head, meeting her gaze. "Would that make me a bad monarch, Hans? If I... if I brought about capital punishment to those who have betrayed my crown?"
A moment passed, as he considered her words. "No. Because you are doing what you need to. You have tried to reason with them, you have tried to communicate, and they are refusing. You cannot exile them, for they will only come back stronger, therefore, you must show force. You must protect the crown as well as your people. They are only doing more harm than good at this point." He gently caressed her cheek. "Eliza, darling, you went into battle with Weselton- pregnant with Anja, I might add- in order to protect the Northuldra, a tribe you only know to be distant subjects; you have stood up against kings more powerful than you in the number of years upon the throne when it came to treaties and trade, how do you not see the sway you have over people? The power- and I don't mean your magic. You are stronger than most men who sit upon the thrones of distant lands, myself included. Darling, were I only so lucky to one day have the sway and power you possess." He kissed her softly.
"They have threatened our children, Eliza. They would sooner spill your blood and that of our unborn child's and imprison our sons in order to put our Milla upon the throne in order to gain control over Arendelle than see reason. They must be dealt with. If not for the sake of your people, then for the sake of our children- Milla, Annes, Anja, and this little one yet to be born." Hans pulled away, meeting her gaze. "The time for negotiation is passed, Elisabeth. Force must be shown. For the good of Arendelle and her monarchy. There can be no debate on this."
She sighed, glancing at her belly, feeling their child shift beneath her hands. Silence settled between them as she digested his words, before finally taking a deep breath. "What do you suggest, Your Majesty? Arendelle's way of dealing with traitors is to put them to death."
He met her gaze, his own steady, even as hers wavered, glistening with frustrated tears. Gently but firmly, he replied, "If Arendelle's way is death, then do it. Make an example of them. Even Good Queen Bess spilled blood when required."
