Chapter 16: Wanted
-Arendelle-
Queen Elsa rubbed her temples as she forced her way out of her study. After a long day of negotiating with the Snoob delegation, she really needed a break.
As she turned down another corridor, she got a glance out the window. The sun was starting to set, and her view of the fjord was consumed with mixtures of orange, purple, and pink with wispy clouds scattered in the sky. She paused to look and inhaled deeply. It was a beautiful sight. Extremely calming. Up ahead, there was a balcony facing the western sky. Immediately, she stepped outside and learned her arms out on the railing. The breeze was cool, and it felt wonderful compared to the stuffy air inside her study.
"It's a shame Anna's not here to see this. Sunsets are her favorite parts of the day, and this one is incredibly beautiful…." She said to herself.
Elsa's brow instantly furrowed as a frown formed across her face. Anna….
Her ship was due back yesterday morning. While she was upset at the lack of arrival, she understood that things didn't always go according to plan—especially when her younger sister was involved. Anna wasn't exactly known for being punctual.
Judging by how quiet the castle had been today, I suppose it's safe to assume she's still late.
Elsa pushed away from the railing and went back inside. Don't fret. Don't freak out. She told herself. I'm sure she's on her way home right now. There's plenty of reasons why she could be running late. By this time tomorrow, I'm sure her ship will already have sailed into the fjord, and Anna will be here to tell me all about her adventures and the festival.
That mentality certainly helped keep her calm for the rest of that day, but the uneasiness came back full force by the second sunset afterwards. And she wasn't the only one. Kai and Gerda were beginning to show signs of worry, though they tried their best to hide it from her. Kristoff and Sven, once they were settled back in the castle stables, seemed extremely quiet around her.
For good portions of her day, she had her work to keep her occupied. Engagements in the village, hours going over municipal briefs. She kept to herself, though the servants that came in and out of her study did their best to try and keep her spirits up. They all knew sea travel made their queen nervous, and the princess' late arrival certainly didn't help matters. It may have been six years ago, but the deaths of King Agnarr and Queen Iduna were still on everyone's minds. And if they were thinking it, there was no doubt Elsa was, too.
Elsa stopped in her tracks and leaned against the nearest doorknob. Now that she thought about it, the only person she hadn't run into lately was Olaf. In fact, she hadn't seen him in quite some time. Lately, Olaf had been the major source of life and joy around the castle with Anna being away. When he wasn't his naturally inquisitive, bubbly self, he would sometimes keep her company while she read through some of her reports. She had been so busy this week that Olaf's absence wasn't too noticed.
She checked all the usual places Olaf liked to spend time. The music room, the library, the small duckling pond in the south gardens; no sign of the magical snowman.
"Gerda!" Elsa called out to her trusted maid as they passed each other in the corridor. "How have you seen Olaf?"
"Why no, Your Majesty." Gerda replied with a small shake of her head. "Not for several days, actually."
Elsa immediately frowned. It wasn't like Olaf to truly hide, and for such an extended period of time. "Where did you see him last?"
"He was leaving the courtyard, preparing to greet Princess Anna—"
"The docks!" Elsa's eyes widened, "It's been days… he can't still be there." Her hand covered her mouth in shock as she thanked Gerda and hurried away.
She moved fast; her heels clicking against the wooden floors, then cobblestone as she rushed to the docks. In the near distance she could see a white figure slumped on an iron bench overlooking the water. Her pace immediately slowed. Olaf wasn't moving. She wondered if he were sleeping.
When she managed to get in front of him, her heart broke. Olaf really was asleep. His head was dropped to the side; his twiggy hands were clutched to a homemade banner that he made himself.
Welcome Home Anna!
Elsa sighed and gently placed a hand on Olaf's arm. "Hey…"
Olaf snorted himself awake and immediately jumped to his feet. He stood as tall as possible on the iron bench and held up the banner high above his head.
"Anna! You're back!" He cheered drowsily.
"N-no, Olaf. It's just me."
Olaf blinked and glanced around. As soon as his eyes set on Elsa, he gave a little hop. "Ooh, Elsa! Hi! You're here to welcome Anna, too!"
She gave a soft smile, "How long have you been out here?"
"A while." He replied, "I had to make sure I was the first to greet Anna!" he gave a high-pitched gasp, "I'm not too late, right? I think I fell asleep. The water is really mesmerizing…"
The corners of Elsa's mouth slowly angled upwards as Olaf kept rambling on. Her eyes glanced down to the banner in his hands. The letters were crocked and sloppy, through it wasn't the worst she'd seen from Olaf. Anna had taught him the basics of how to read and write, and ever since that first day, it had been a small obsession of his to absorb as much knowledge as possible. And there were many times when she would find Olaf lounging on the floor practicing his own style of penmanship.
"—you didn't miss Anna, Olaf." Elsa said softly once Olaf stopped spewing fact after fact about water. "She hasn't come home yet."
"Ooh…" He said. He glanced down at his banner, then flopped onto his rump back onto the bench seat. "This is taking a lot longer than I thought. Ships must move incredibly slow."
"Sometimes," Elsa replied and sat down next to him. "I'm sure she's on her way, though."
"I do hope so." Olaf said, "I miss her." The banner fell from his twig fingers and fluttered off the bench onto the ground. Elsa reached down to pick it up, "Do you miss her just as much as me?"
"Oh of course—even more so." Elsa commented, and let out a soft gasp when his shoulders slumped and the little sticks atop his head drooped. "Hey, what's the matter?"
Olaf took a deep breath and leaned against the back of the bench. "I just really, really want Anna back. It's been so long, and I want to show her all the books I've been reading!"
She gave a weak smile and pointed to the banner in her hands. "And how well you write? It's gotten so much better!"
"Y-yeah." He sighed, "it's not the same here without her. It's… lonely."
"Lonely?" She blinked in surprise and shifted in her seat to face him better, "this castle is full of people."
"But you're busy a lot of the day. A-and Kristoff and Sven are often in the mountains…."
Oh Olaf…. She pulled the snowman in for a hug. Over the last three years it's become increasingly clear just how much he and Anna bonded. True, he was the best mixture of both her and Anna, but he and Anna knew each other the longest. Together they traveled all over the North Mountain, befriended a family of rock trolls, not to mention conspired to get her out to Wandering Oaken's for more than one sauna appointment. There were even times when Olaf spent more time with Anna over the years than Anna did with Kristoff while the two of them were courting.
Her expression softened the longer she held him. I think I really underestimated how things would be with Anna gone this long.
"If I neglected you these last few weeks, I'm so sorry." She said, "would you like me to stay here with you until she comes?"
"It might be a while…." Olaf said, "do you think she's still at the festival?"
Elsa shrugged, "I hope not. The festival was supposed to end earlier in the week."
"Oh." He broke away from her and slumped forward.
"Hey…" She nudged him, "we just have to be patient. Anna… Anna will be home soon. And in the meantime, we still have each other, right? I'm sorry if I've neglected you, Olaf. We… I… really missed this chance to spend some wonderful one-on-one time with you with her away. But we can make up some of that time while we wait."
Olaf looked up to Elsa with large orb-eyes. "I would love that! And we can start with warm hugs!"
Elsa couldn't resist giggling as she welcomed the snowman's sudden embrace. "What would you like us to do?"
"Oh, I don't know. There's so many things!" He said cheerfully as he peered over her shoulder. "We can go to the mountains and visit Marshmallow and Slush and Sludge and Ansel and Flake and Flurry and William—" Elsa couldn't help but chuckle as Olaf named off the snowgies by name, - "…and maybe we can turn the courtyard into another ice rink! Or skip stones in the pond! We can even wave to all the new ships coming into the fjord!"
Elsa laughed and let go of him, "Oh Olaf, we can do all of those th—" she paused and thought about his list of activities. "Did you say ships coming into the fjord?" She glanced over her shoulder and her eyebrows lifted in surprise. There were three vessels sailing in. Her excitement waned at first at the apparent lack of the crocus flag on the high mast.
Olaf glanced to her briefly before hopping off the bench and going forward to the rope guards. "That's a pretty flag!" He said and pointed to the center ship as it sailed in flanked by the other two.
Elsa moved to stand beside the snowman, "It's a diplomatic flag, used by their kingdom's ambassador." She said and watched the banner billow in the wind as the ship came closer. She recognized the insignia. The crest belonged to the Southern Isles. How strange… she thought. There weren't any upcoming appointments scheduled with Prince Astor, and he was just here several months ago.
A few Arendellian guards posted in the square met Elsa and Olaf down the ramp at the docks when the ambassadorial vessel dropped anchor and their gangplank. Her men kept back a few feet behind her while they waited for the ship's occupants to disembark.
The first two men down were members of the King's guard. Elsa recognized their elaborate uniform. They stood at attention flanking the bottom of the plank. Her curiosity was rising by the second as the ship's captain—Karl Hallbeker—descended next. He immediately moved past the guarded men and bowed deeply to her.
"Queen Elsa." He said formally as he straightened back up. She gave a small, cautious smile as he pivoted to the side and took up an attentive stance as well. "May I present His Majesty King Frederick, and his Royal Highness, Prince Astor."
Elsa blinked in surprise. She didn't expect the king himself to be aboard the vessel, but glancing off into the fjord, his presence explained the two additional vessels holding position further back in the water. She and the Isles monarch shared a friendly and open line of communication, the same with the ambassador. Never have either of them ever shown up unannounced before.
There was a brief pause between the announcement and King Frederick descending from the ship with his younger brother not far behind him. The king's facial expression was a dead giveaway that something wasn't quite right. He looked incredibly tense and exhausted, and his efforts to cover it up weren't exactly working. The closer he got, the worse he looked, as if at the very least he hadn't slept in a week. Her eyes briefly shifted to Prince Astor. He looked far better in comparison, but his usual welcoming smile was nowhere to be found.
"Queen Elsa," Frederick greeted and clasped her hand in his for a gentle shake. "A pleasure to see you again."
"Yes, it's been quite a while." Elsa nodded with a smile, then angled her head to look just past the king. "And hello again, Prince Astor. This is certainly quite the surprise."
Prince Astor bowed, "I'm sorry we didn't send word ahead—there wasn't enough time."
"Oh?"
Before Frederick could reply, Olaf bound forward with his hands extended in the air. "Don't forget about me! Hi everyone. I'm Olaf! And I like warm hugs!"
The immediate sight of Olaf made Frederick jump back. The nearest guard reached for his weapon to defend his king until Astor quickly gestured to the man to stand down. Frederick's eyes grew wide as he stared curiously at the animated snowman; his jaw dropped open, but he couldn't find proper words to leave his mouth. "H-he's…. alive…." He managed to get out after a few moments of stunned silence.
"Oh, that's right! This is your first visit to Arendelle, isn't it?" Elsa asked.
"Yes…" Frederick said, taking a slight step back and politely shook Olaf's twiggy hand. Everyone in the realm knew about Elsa's magic, but seeing it in-person for the first time, seeing a live creation of hers, was something to get used to. "If only it were under more pleasant circumstances. As it is, this is merely a brief detour on my way north."
Elsa's gaze shifted to the two brothers as an uncomfortable feeling started to form in the pit of her stomach. "Why, what's wrong?"
Frederick took a deep breath, and it looked as if he was struggling to ask his question. "Has Princess Anna returned from Rheland?"
"Nope." Olaf answered before Elsa could, "We're her welcoming committee!"
The Westergaard men exchanged glances briefly before Astor spoke up. "Then perhaps we should return to the castle. There's something we have to discuss."
The entire surface of Elsa's desk frosted over as she slowly sank down into her chair. Across from her sat both Westergaard brothers looking equally disturbed to how she suddenly felt. Frederick, for never having experienced her magic first-hand until just a short while ago, merely stared downwards towards his lap with an out-of-sorts look on his face. The growing surface frost and drop in room temperature didn't even faze him. His mind was clearly elsewhere.
And Olaf—poor Olaf—if she thought the sight of him at the docks was heartbreaking, nothing topped the wide-eyed, shocked stare aimed right at her as he stood between both brothers' chairs.
"This…" Elsa finally managed to get out after banishing the frost, "This can't be…"
Astor glanced to his elder brother for any sign of a response. The king didn't even blink. In fact, he was silent for most of the conversation thus far. "We… we shared similar beliefs—" he cleared his throat when he caught sight of Frederick finally coming back around and flashing him the evil eye. "-well…. I did… when the news first came. Not all of us had spies at our disposal-"
"—spies?" Elsa asked, turning to Frederick, "You knew about this?"
"Of course not!" Frederick snapped, finally showing some emotional investment in the conversation. He jumped out of his seat and started pacing around her study near the fireplace. "My agents informed me of military activity growing near the Rheland border. I had my suspicions that something foul was going on, but no one believed me. No one took it seriously—not even my own wife. And now Charlotte's trapped down there amid a violent uprising. Who knows if she's even alright-" He leaned his arm onto the fireplace mantle and turned away from the others as he tried to stifle yet another wave of panic and dread. His jaw quivered for a moment and he closed eyes, took a deep breath to center himself. In the background, he could hear the soft sound of something padding across the wooden floor, and then there was a light, gentle grip on his leg. He peeked an eye open and glanced down. Olaf was by his side. Frederick tensed up at the snowman's presence but didn't make a move to him away.
"Her and Hans." Astor said to Elsa, continuing the conversation. "However, we don't know the state of either of them—if they're alive or even together."
"…Hans?" Elsa asked. He's there too? That was certainly unpleasant news, though it paled in comparison to the greater problem at hand. While she certainly didn't want Hans anywhere near her sister, there was the small consolation that he was most likely detained along with the other castle guests, and not a member causing trouble. That at least meant he posed no immediate threat to Anna.
She hoped.
"What of you, Your Majesty?" Astor asked. "Had you any clue about any of this?"
Elsa shook her head. "I was wary about Anna attending the festival just for being near Alvania. Chancellor Beker certainly made his views about me noticeably clear during my coronation, and we had ceased ties afterward. I know Beker and King Wilhelm didn't always get along, but that was the extent of my knowledge of their relations. I certainly had no idea he was planning something on this scale, otherwise I'd never have let Anna attend the festival!" She swallowed nervously and looked to the King. "You're the one to receive the formal news. What are his demands?"
Astor cleared his throat again, "There was no formal news from Oskberg. Queen Charlotte's sea captain managed to plow through the incoming blockade. From his retelling, it seemed the other vessels at port were boarded or attacked.
"But…" Olaf detached from the king and moved back through the study to stand beside Elsa. "How is Anna supposed to get home?"
Elsa turned to him with an equally worried glance. "I don't know, Olaf."
"Do you think she's alright?" He asked softly.
"I hope so. Anna is capable and strong—"
"—Unfortunately, no one truly knows what's transpired down there." Frederick said sharply as he turned, approached the others and rejoined the conversation. "But Viktor Beker's anti-monarchist views have been no secret. If he's invaded Rheland—whatever his reasons—there's a good assumption that he's stormed the castle by now and taken King Wilhelm prisoner. Whatever he wants, Rheland has it. Representatives from nearly every kingdom were all gathered in one place. Since it's clear no one's been allowed to leave, they too have some role to play in all of this."
Elsa's fingers drummed idly on the arms of her chair. Another small layer of frost formed when her skin made contact, but she managed to keep it from spreading further. "Do you think Beker would harm the others? They've done nothing to him. And I'm sure several of those men and women are from allied lands."
"It may not be about the individuals themselves, "Astor said, leaning forward in his seat, "But what they represent."
Elsa and Olaf exchanged puzzled glances, "…you mean as hostages?" She asked.
"They are direct links to their heads of state—Dukes, Lords, Princesses. Queens—" Astor explained, though his eyes shifted briefly to his brother for a moment to assess his state. He still appeared in control of his emotions. For now. "Even if they have no true power, they will certainly carry a heavy ransom when Beker comes calling."
"I see." The mere thought of Anna being degraded to nothing more than a bargaining chip made her stomach turn. She couldn't possibly fathom what Beker would want from her. Either of them.
Frederick crossed his arms over his chest, "if there's a shred of silver lining, it's that we are still a half-step ahead of Beker. He has yet to send his demands, therefore he probably assumes we are merely impatiently waiting for our loved ones to come home. We would have no reason to think anything out of the ordinary has transpired in Rheland. And a few late ships are hardly a cause for concern. It happens all the time. After all, how late is Princess Anna at this point?"
"A few days." Elsa replied softly, "And I'll be honest, I was beginning to worry about her absence before your arrival. I know my sister isn't always the most punctual, but my concerns were for other factors…" her voice trailed off as her mind instantly flashed back six years ago to the moment she learned about her parent's untimely death at sea. "…not kingdom take-overs."
"Then we'll at least have some time to prepare. No doubt we'll be receiving something from Rheland soon." Astor said. "Beker's news won't come as that much of a shock now that we know a little of what's happened, so his demands will give us a clue how to proceed further."
"What do you plan to do in the meantime?"
"My navy has already been deployed to the southern waters. If Alvania decides to set sail, I want them stopped before they go too far into our northern region." Frederick replied sternly. "I will not allow my islands to suffer Rheland's fate."
"Do you really think Beker would spread this far?" She asked.
"I don't know." The king replied, "but I won't stand idly by and wait for when there's a canon firing on my ports. I suggest you prepare, too, Queen Elsa, to protect your lands and people."
Elsa frowned, "Arendelle doesn't have much in the way of armed forces. Only a small handful of naval ships; most of our army was eliminated during a tragic excursion involving King Runeard, my grandfather, far north beyond the mountains. I've enough soldiers to protect the castle and the main village here, but men will be spread thin to cover the rest of Arendelle's borders. I have only so many volunteers at my disposal." She sighed, "The Arendelle I've always known has been a peaceful kingdom, and that's what my people are used to. I'm not sure how well we would withstand a large-scale attack."
Astor tilted his head curiously, "You have vast magic, Your Majesty. Surely that can come as a great aide."
Elsa shook her head, "I can't use my magic to attack others. I… it's something I've done before." She frowned and shifted uncomfortably in her seat, "During the incident with the frozen summer, I viciously went after two men who tried to kill me. One, I pinned to a wall with icy spears ready to pierce right through his throat; the other…." She sighed, "I nearly ran off a high balcony with a moving barricade. The fall would most certainly have killed him. You see… my magic has ties to my emotions in a way. Fear… anger… it's easy to be overwhelmed in the heat of the moment and let my power consume rationale. I promised myself after the land thawed and I assumed some control over my magic that I would never put myself in that position—never use my powers that way again."
"But… surely after these years you've learned to control it." Astor suggested.
"…I have, but that doesn't make using it against others right."
"I can understand hesitance," Frederick said, "but these are not normal circumstances. Should Alvania continue to spread violence to other kingdoms, there is a good possibility that war could erupt throughout the realm. We must be prepared—and that means becoming comfortable with the uncomfortable. The fate of our lands, our very lives, and the lives of our loved ones could depend on it."
Elsa nodded slowly. This turn of events certainly gave her a lot to think about. This would certainly be a trying time for everyone. She watched as Frederick rubbed his temple with one hand and braced himself against the desk with the other. Her heart broke for the man, and she could easily imagine what he was going through. Charlotte was his entire world, just as Anna was hers. His receiving of the news no doubt shattered him completely. She too felt ready to snap and let her emotions get the better of her, but for her visitor's sake, she held it in, along with the bursts of magic and frigid air that were begging to be released. Her office could temporarily freeze out after they left.
It's no wonder he looks so worn down. I imagine I'll be appearing just as restless as the next few days pass… constant worries over Anna, over everyone trapped in Rheland; and then wondering what Beker's next move will be.
"Can I get you a room, King Frederick?" She eventually asked, "You look terrible, and I'm sure you and your brother could use a break. We can continue this over dinner—"
"—thank you, no." Frederick shook his head, "Unfortunately, we won't be able to stay much longer. I'm too far gone for a decent rest. And not even a nap will help prepare me for what I have to do next. We're headed to Vallacia, and I have to inform King Argus about his daughter's fate." He took a deep breath. "No, I won't rest—not until Charlotte—" he sighed at the pointed look Astor shot him, "—and Hans—are safe at home." Straightening up, he held out his hand to her, and when she took it, he squeezed hers tightly. "Be cautious, Queen Elsa. Stay safe. We'll be meeting again soon, hopefully when a bit more knowledge lights our way."
Hans' blood ran cold as he stared at the notice board. Anna's image looked back at him and he couldn't tear his gaze away. This… this is impossible…. His fingers traced along the paper. That's… Stupor gone, he immediately yanked open his satchel and pulled out his sketchbook. Along with the regular bound pages, his book had several loose papers folded and tucked inside the covers, and as soon as he unbuckled the cover and flung it open, those single sheets all fluttered to the ground. He picked them up one by one, dread increasing with each picture he mentally checked off his list. And then there were no more loose pages. He flipped through the book. Nothing.
It… it fell out. It dropped in my room, and those bastards used it against us.
He locked the buckle and shoved the book back into his bag. It didn't take long for his heart to start racing. Just how many copies were posted throughout the city? How many people have gazed at Anna's image? Would they easily recognize her?
Without hesitation, Hans quickly tugged the page off the board and shoved it into his bag. He then whirled around and scanned the surrounding area for signs of Anna. The market square was getting a lot more crowded now.
"Marit?"
He stalked towards a large bulk of vendor carts and glanced around. That same soldier was on the far end of the block putting up another poster. He ducked his hands into his pockets as his hands flexed in and out of fists.
We can't linger in this city. Damnit Anna, where the hell did you—Suddenly, he spotted her slipping into a small clothing shop and hurried after her. Standing just outside the store, he took a deep breath and put on his bravest, most innocent face before stepping inside. It was a small shop, smaller on the inside than the exterior walls led to believe. Several other women were inside shopping as well, which made maneuvering around them and the display tables a bit difficult. Anna was towards the back corner of the store looking at gloves. Once he made it to her, he slipped his arm subtly around her waist. He felt her instantly tense up but once her head turned to the side and caught sight of him, she relaxed.
"I told you to stay close…" He whispered to her.
"I did!" She hissed, "This is still the market square. It's the first shop I went into!"
"And it'll be the last, too."
She huffed and elbowed him hard in the side. "You're no fun!" She picked up a light brown set and held them up for him to see. "What do you think about these?"
"You need gloves?"
Anna shrugged. "I didn't pack any. A-and it'll start getting colder soon—especially at nights." She said quietly, "I thought they'd help."
"Fine. Just be quick about it."
"Why? What's eating at you?"
He really didn't want to tell her about the wanted poster. If she knew there was an obvious hunt for her this soon, their rushing about and constantly looking over their shoulders could give away who they really were. There was no telling how many people would see her face plastered all over and pay attention enough to recognize her in a crowd. The whole point was to blend in, not put a target on their backs.
"Nothing. Just… don't linger, alright? I'll just wait outside."
Waiting for Anna gave him time to browse around the vendor carts for anything useful for their journey. Across the street from the feminine boutique was a large Tannery storefront. That certainly piqued his interest. He did promise Anna he'd look for a dagger's belt for her.
"G'day." The shopkeeper greeted Hans as he stepped through the threshold. "What can I do for ye?"
"Hello." Hans said and approached the main counter. "I was wondering if you'd have something sturdy that I could attach this to." He pulled his small sheathed dagger from his satchel. "A belt perhaps."
"Hmm…" The man took it gently from Hans and turned it over slowly in his hands. "I might. Lemme check the back." He set the dagger back down on the counter and ducked behind a curtained-off area.
In the meantime, Hans took the free time to look around. There were quite the variety of products for sale. He wandered over to a display table covered in different samples of leather when the door to the shop opened. On instinct, he turned his head towards the newcomer and instantly one corner of his mouth curved upwards. It was Anna, though she looked slightly different. Her hair was no longer cascading behind her back. It was wrapped and tucked up under a brand-new ivory and floral bonnet tied in a tidy bow under her chin. And her hands were now covered by the same pair of gloves that she showed him in the previous shop.
"Well well…" He said softly as she came up to him and grasped his arm gently. "I must say, I like the look."
"Do you?" She smiled wide and pat the side of her bonnet with her free hand. "I thought it framed my face just right."
He lowered his head down to whisper in her ear, "it's definitely an improvement than my cravat wrapped around your head. You look a bit more like a common wife now." Anna batted her eyelashes at him, and he let out a nervous chuckle, "should I be afraid how much this cost?"
"Nope."
"Are you going to tell me how much?"
She giggled and shook her head.
"It's not becoming to keep secrets from your husband, you know."
"Oh, it's no secret." She replied. "It's just none of your business." Anna glanced around. "And what's this? I can't shop around but you can?"
"I'm getting a belt for your new dagger." Anna's lips formed an 'oh' as he gestured around the store. "If you need anything else from here, speak up now."
"I think I'm good." She said and let go of him to look around. It wasn't long after that the shopkeeper reemerged from the back area of the shop with a few different pieces in his hand.
"Well, sir, I foun—oh! G'day, Fräulein." He said with a quick nod to Anna, "I'll be right with ye."
"It's alright," Hans said as he returned to the counter with Anna by his side. "She's my wife."
"Ah." The man said and placed the pieces down on the counter for Hans to see. They were all rather long and heavy, most likely selected to fit someone of his own stature. Hans closely examined them. Any of them would serve the basic function he was looking for, but he really didn't want to have to take his knife and chop it down to fit Anna better.
"Anything a little smaller? Something to…." He waved a hand around, feigning a search for proper words, "something to fit my wife, perhaps?"
The shopkeeper briefly looked at Anna, confused. "A dagger belt… for yer wife?"
Hans could feel Anna's eyes on him now, too. He was hoping to avoid any unnecessary questions. Time to improvise. "She's been helping me with the family farm from time to time, and unfortunately has a terrible habit of dropping her tools; or leaving them in most unfortunate places." He sideways glanced to Anna before leaning closer to the shopkeeper, "She's a bit absent-minded."
"Hey…" Anna hissed quietly and elbowed him hard in the side.
"Well, if it's for yer lady, that changes things." The keeper took the selections back and set them aside on a workbench behind the counter, then came out and around to the far wall of the shop. He picked up looped belt off a narrow shelf and brought it back for Anna to see. It was much narrower than the original belts he showed Hans, and the buckle in the center had some carved decoration to it. "This is the plainest ladies' wear I've got. For farm work this might be a bit… delicate? But that clip o' yers would definitely slide onto this no problem."
Anna took it gently in her hands and ran her fingers over the metal buckle and the smooth leather. "May I try it on?" When the keeper nodded, she unhooked the closure and wrapped it around her waist. It fit well, and unlike when she tried to wear the scabbard belt, this didn't have too much excess material sticking off the side. With it secured tight enough for her liking, Hans reached across the counter for his dagger and clipped it down along the side of her hip.
"How's that feel?" He asked.
Anna glanced down and rest her hand on the dagger's hilt. The whole piece was a tad loose because of the belt's size, but it was still manageable. Hans noticed it too, and he even tried wiggling the dagger while she wore it to see how easily it would fall off. Surprisingly, it stayed put even with his rough tugging.
"I think this will work." Anna said and pushed Hans' hands away so she could take the belt off.
"How much for it?" Hans asked, taking the accessory from her and moving back towards the counter.
The shopkeeper returned to his post and pulled a sales ledger from a lower shelf. "Six coins."
When it seemed that Anna was going to reach into her satchel for her money, he grasped at her hands instead and subtly shook his head. "It's on me." He murmured to her before pulling out his coin sack.
The shopkeeper's voice got Hans' attention. "Now, how about a name?"
"…a name?" Anna asked.
The keeper glanced between them both. "I prefer to keep extensive records of everything I sell."
Hans sighed softly and cleared his throat. "Nikolai Wagner." He watched the gentleman scribble the information down on a very full page and prayed he didn't ask for any further personal information.
"You know something?" Anna said softly to him once they were back outside in the market square. "That was kind of fun!" She beamed and took his arm, "I miss being able to shop around."
"I didn't peg you to be a shopaholic."
Anna smiled, "Not always. But during the festival I had a grand ol' time going through all the markets." The smile started to fade as she leaned her head on his arm as they walked. "It seems like a lifetime ago…."
Hans moved his arm around her back as they walked. "It does… doesn't it?"
"Yeah…" She glanced up at him, "so what's going on? Why were you rushing me before?"
He glanced around the surroundings. It didn't appear that anyone was watching them, but just to be on the safe side, once they reached the street corner, he directed her to the left. The livery stables were on this street only a few blocks away. "I'll tell you once we get out of this place." He said quietly and quickened their pace only slightly. Suddenly appearing that they were hurrying out of town might draw too much attention. There was a soldier leaning casually against a lamp post up ahead and as they approached, he made sure to hold Anna a bit closer against his side. When she glanced up at him quizzically, he merely flashed her an adoring smile and traced a finger briefly down her cheek. "You know… that bonnet really is quite becoming." He lowered his head closer to hers and practically purred in her ear, "I look forward to—" the rest he whispered so only she could hear.
Her eyes widened and it looked like she was trying to hide the horrified look on her face. "Nikki, what are—"
"Shh…" he immediately shushed her and then glanced over their shoulders briefly. "Relax," he whispered, "that was for the soldier's benefit."
"Like that's supposed to make me feel better?!" She growled at him.
"No, but I'm sure slapping me on the outskirts of town will."
"Hmmph! You got that right."
Hans smirked weakly. One of these days aggravating her would cost him—or at least, cost his nose dearly, but he didn't care. Teasing her, getting her flustered made them seem… normal; gave him a chance to get his mind off their constant impending danger.
He let out a sigh of relief when they crossed the final block to the stables. Soon they'd be out of this place and back in the relative safety of the forest where they could go back to arguing and being overall prickly towards each other. In truth, he was growing tired of their constant battles. True, some of them held actual merit with their conflicting personalities, but those were few and far between. He was starting to wonder if she was itching for a fight so often just to keep him at arm's length. He understood it, deep down; the desire to treat him as a nothing more than a means to an end. He wasn't her friend, only her guide. Her protector. Three years ago, he did her a terrible wrong and it still stung her deep down. But it stung him, too. And he felt the burn every time he tried to be amicable and she pushed him away. Still, even in this impossible situation, he wouldn't stop trying. This insane adventure could be the only chance he had to make things right. He just had to keep telling himself that.
"I'll wait out here." Anna said softly once they reached the stables.
"What's wrong, darling? Don't want to greet your glorious steed? I'm sure he misses you."
"It's barely been an hour." Anna rolled her eyes. "Just go pick them up, ya big lug."
The caretaker was surprised to see Hans back so early.
"Oh, my wife is rather tired. She wanted to shop, now she would rather lie down." Hans replied with a sigh. "You know how women can be."
The caretaker chuckled. "Absolutely. My wife is with child. She can't seem to keep her mind straight for five minutes." He walked Hans down to the stall where his horses were. "You got kids?"
Hans hesitated and briefly glanced towards the outer stable doors where Anna was waiting. The question caught him off guard, and he wasn't entirely sure why it bothered him so much. "I-no…. But we hope to someday." He eventually replied. He couldn't speak for Anna's personal views on the subject, so he answered with his own. Anna was the one tasked to come up with their marital details, so he hoped she wouldn't mind if he adlibbed this one aspect.
"They're wonderful." The caretaker replied with a smile as he opened the stall. "We're on our second now."
"Many congratulations to you then," Hans said politely as he took both horses by the reins. "And thanks again, for holding our horses."
"Anytime, friend. We'll be seeing you on your next trip into town."
As Hans led the horses outside, he glanced around and almost had a panic. Anna was nowhere near where he left her minutes before.
"Marit?" He called and moved closer to the road. Looking from one direction to the other, all he saw were pedestrians minding their own business; soldiers grouped outside of a tavern conversing with one another. His mind started to race. What if someone picked her up? He was only inside for a few minutes, but that may have been all the time someone needed to identify her and inform a soldier. His heart began to race as he walked a few steps down the road towards the edge of town.
Then he spotted her. She was walking along the far wall of the stables out of sight from the townspeople, until she stopped to lean against a large tree. She kept her gaze down towards the grass as she rubbed her arms. If he didn't know better, he'd say she looked a little uncomfortable. Did she happen to catch sight of one of those posters?
"Marit!"
The sound of his voice perked her up and she immediately turned and hurried to him. To his surprise, she threw her arms around him and buried her face in his chest. "Nikki…"
He wrapped his free arm around her as his mind raced. Her sudden surge of affection made him incredibly suspicious—cover or no. "Did you miss me that much?" He could feel her shaking her head against him.
"Don't get the wrong idea." She whispered. "I'm just playing up our ruse—"
"—in that case, would you like me to kiss you?"
"Try it and I'll kill you."
He chuckled briefly and pulled back to get a better look at her. She was frowning and trying to stealthily look around him. "What is it? What's wrong? Why were you hiding all the way back here?"
She bit her lip and traced her fingertips down the front of his coat, "when I was waiting before, a few people were staring."
He groaned internally. This was exactly what he was hoping to avoid. "Who?"
"I dunno…" Anna turned away and glanced back down the street. "There were some men just looking really hard in this direction for a while from that street corner there. One gestured to me, then pointed off in some other direction. Then the other disappeared."
Hans followed her gaze. That spot in particular was vacant now, but it didn't mean the threat was over. With a new sense of urgency, he led her to her horse and helped her mount. "C'mon, dear. Let's go home."
"Home…" she nodded and flicked the reins. Her horse started off down the street as he mounted his. He took one brief glance over his shoulder to make sure no one was coming up behind them as he set off after Anna.
Once they were further down the road, she pulled her horse up alongside his. "So… what was the rush? Why did we have to leave almost as soon as we arrived in Heidelberg?"
Hans sighed and dug into his satchel for the poster. "A soldier was putting these up all over the city just as we arrived.
She took the paper and stared at it. Her jaw instantly dropped as she stared at her own artistic image. "How… how is this possible? I mean… where did this come from?"
Hans took a deep breath. He didn't have the heart to tell her that that paper only existed because of his own carelessness. And lying to her wasn't a path he wanted to go down. Which option was worse?
"It seems Viktor Beker will go to no end to get you back." Hans said reluctantly and kept his gaze forward, "That paper you're holding… he made that from a sketch found in my room."
She immediately tugged the reins to a stop and glared at him. "Excuse me?" Her eyes darted from the page to the back of his head, "Stop riding! Please…."
When Hans stalled his horse and turned around to look at her, he expected her to have a furious expression to match the anger in her voice. Instead, she only stared at the page. Her fingers grazed over her picture slowly, her mouth agape as she tried to process everything.
"How… how are we supposed to travel now?" She asked quietly, "everyone in that town has my face…."
"…and most likely in other cities throughout the country as well, by the time we reach them." Hans replied.
"W-why…" Anna shook her head. "Why do we have such terrible luck?" Unable to look at the paper anymore, she quickly folded it up and tucked it into her dress pocket.
"Well, we are fugitives…."
"Hans," She sighed, "How are we supposed to go on? If we can't go into the cities, how will we replenish our food or supplies? Where will we sleep?"
Hans thought over their predicament for a moment. She did have a point. Some necessary moments of relief for them have come from visiting villages, not just for more food. They spent the night in Greja, and Anna did have a point just days ago about how sleeping in a real bed for a whole night was beneficial over forever napping on the forest floor. And there'd no doubt be a time where a timed village visit would also replenish his weaponry, too. Eventually, he would run out of bullets. Stealing from every soldier they incapacitate worked for now but would only get them so far in the long run.
"I suppose it's a good thing that you're the only one mentioned on that postage." Hans eventually replied. "Perhaps you have to limit yourself in the cities, but I don't have to."
"So, you're suggesting leaving me out in the woods while you go scavenging? How is that safe?"
"I didn't say it was." He retorted, "the only other alternative we have is to avoid civilization altogether—an option I don't recommend." Hans ran a hand through his hair. "We'll just have to be a lot more careful going forward. You especially, will have to keep your interactions with people at a minimum; and no more leaving my side."
Anna groaned loudly. "Wonderful. I suppose this couldn't get any worse though."
I wish she didn't say that…. He frowned. There's plenty of ways that it can.
Before he could even come up with a reply, an arrow whizzed right between the two of them and landed itself in a tree up ahead. Anna let out a frightful shriek and they both immediately whirled around. There were two cavalrymen coming up the road behind them; one with a sword drawn, the other with a crossbow aimed right at them.
Well shit, it just got worse.
"T-that was fast!" Anna cried and looked to Hans widened eyes.
"You're telling me!" He groaned and flicked the reins hard to get the horse moving. "Ride. Now!"
Hans swore under his breath as they raced down the road. He had been so careful this entire time, and just now he allowed himself to be so absorbed in Anna and her worries that he completely missed the sounds of hooves approaching. They could have had the chance to get out of sight. Albeit a small one based on how quickly the Heidelberg soldiers caught up, but a chance, nonetheless. He glanced over his shoulder briefly. The one soldier was balancing the reins and the crossbow as he loaded another arrow. The other with only the sword was catching up a little faster.
This time, he heard the arrow fire. It must have brushed closer to Anna this time because he could hear her whimpering as she leaned as flat as she could get on the horse's back.
We need to get off this road. But there's also the risk of losing Anna in the woods. We can't get separated again, for her sake. I can't speak for these men and their motives, but I won't put Anna in that position again.
While his mind raced in coming up with a plan, his hands went towards his hip. They fumbled in trying to get the pistol out of the holster. He didn't exactly prepare the weapon before entering Heidelberg, so he prayed there were enough bullets to get the job done. His extra rounds were buried in the supply saddle pack and there was no way to get to them.
He managed to get a shot off. Unfortunately, when he looked back over his shoulder, it was clear his aim was off. Either soldier had yet to falter.
"Hans…" she called to him suddenly and motioned with her head forward. There was a fork in the road up ahead.
"Turn right." Hans told her. They were following the same road that they took to reach Heidelberg originally, and he distinctly remembered that turning left would have eventually led them back towards the Rheland border. Without his map or compass for guidance, he would have to trust that the right path would somehow get them to safety.
The horses veered off the main road, and he readied his pistol for when the soldiers' horses would make the same turn after them. He fired again, this time getting the small satisfaction of the bullet hitting the man's crossbow. It splintered and broke from his hands. It wasn't the result he was hoping for, but at least they weren't in immediate danger of being shot in the back anymore.
Unless they also were armed with pistols. There was that.
Before he could even register, Anna suddenly veered her horse in front of him and to the extreme right into the trees. It took him an extra few second to follow after. "What are you doing?" He shouted while trying to catch up.
"Trying not to get caught!" She shouted back, "or y'know… die!"
"And I'm trying not to get separated from you!"
"Well how about we get separated from them!" She gripped onto the horse tighter as it maneuvered through the trees.
Up ahead, he could see the trees thinning out. Anna was headed for an open field. And he thought the roadway was bad. But Anna was ahead of him, so he was forced to follow her lead and pray she didn't steer them right into some ambush.
Hans tried to get a better view behind him. The soldiers were gone. He didn't get his hopes up, though. There was no way they lost them that quickly. He and Anna really weren't that lucky.
"Do you see them?" She called.
"No!"
"Oh good!" She started to straighten back up on the horse as they broke through the tree line.
"Keep going—don't stop." He warned her. "They could still—"
Anna's sudden scream silenced him. The soldiers had cut them off and flanked them on each side. The one to her left was the disarmed crossbowman. With his hands free, he leapt from his horse and tackled Anna off of hers. His arms were completely around her as he took the brunt of the fall. Once on the ground, they ended up rolling through the tall grass.
"Anna!" Hans called out to her and then looked immediately to his right. The swordsman was getting close to him, and either he'd get slashed across the chest or he'd find himself knocked to the ground, too. Hans whipped his pistol arm around to fire, but the man snatched his wrist and aimed the weapon into the air as it fired.
Another shot wasted. He felt trapped. He couldn't even fathom getting to Anna until he got this soldier off his back. Before he could give the man time to even consider another move, Hans pulled his right foot from his stirrup and leveled an awkward but hard kick into the horse's side. The animal lost its balance and faltered. Hans yanked the reins, jumped off his own horse, and raised his weapon to fire on his assailant.
No shot. No more bullets.
Cursing under his breath, he glanced over to Anna. She had managed to break free of her captor and was running all over the open field. At least she had distance between her and the soldier. He must have injured himself in the fall because he was struggling after her. Footsteps were coming up behind him, and he had just enough time to draw his sword to cross blows with his soldier. The man was decently skilled with the blade, and Hans was immediately put on the defensive.
"Stand down." He growled as he pushed his weight into Hans. "It's not you we want. Only the fräulein."
Hans gritted his teeth and braced himself for another blow, "over my dead body."
The soldier sneered, "that can be arranged." Removing one hand from his sword, the soldier reached for his hip. That's when Hans noticed a holster hidden among the other pouches strapped to his belt.
"Not if I end you first." Hans jammed his sword down hard onto his opponent's, and it gave him the briefest window. He swung his boot up right into the man's groin. Once he doubled over onto his knees, Hans slammed the hilt of his sword down onto the man's skull. The instant he was down on the ground, Hans kicked the sword away and snatched up the man's pistol before he could get his hands on it. Hans aimed it right at the man's back for several seconds, then lowered his arm to his side.
"…I'd rather kill you and save myself the trouble later," He muttered under his breath, "…but I made her a promise. Don't make me regret the decision." He turned his back to the unconscious man and searched the field for Anna as he caught his breath. She was a good distance away, but she was coming back towards him. Her eyes shifted between his general direction and where her own assailant was stumbling in the grass. He was clutching his side. Hans wanted to assume it was because he was hurt, but if the unconscious soldier had a hidden pistol, there was a good chance this one did too, and he could be reaching for it. But with his eyes on the soldier, he completely missed Anna's sudden freeze and her expression turn to one of utter horror.
"OHMYGODWATCHOUT!"
In his extreme peripheral vision, Hans saw shadows hovering behind him, but there wasn't any time to react. Just as he started to turn, a loud shot was fired. There was a sharp pain in the back of his head. He could only hear Anna shrieking as he collapsed into the grass, and everything went black.