Jellicle's Creed

Frozen Memories

Seqeunce 5

Memory 3: Elsa's Birthday Bash part 2

19 December 2051

Arendelle Castle

Idun's Bedroom library

Just after full dark

"Jesus Christ!" Mark stumbled back, slamming into the ground ass-first like some sort of dyslexic, startled cat, slamming his back and head into one of the book-cases, making a book fall and slam into his nose, which in turn made him fall over in pain, cursing under his breath like a seasoned sailor as he griped his nose, eyes squinted shut as he held back the urge to scream in pain.

Slowly he opened his eyes. Yep... the vision of Elsa's Mother was still there. "Elsa... you're seeing this too, right? Not just me?" His voice was pained, and, without a doubt, spooked.

Elsa turned to Mark, a confused look on her face when he shouted "Who ?" She tried not to laugh as Mark slammed into the shelf and a book beaned him dead in the face, She nodded "Yes I see it... her." She turned back to the image, it seemed to be paused in place, waiting for something ? "My only question is, why ?"

It was the question that got her 'mothers' attention. "I hid this Piece of Eden at Blackrock Temple, activation of this recording means I am either dead or... no longer with you" Idun said softly, the map of Arendelle refocused on the entire kingdom. Zooming out to show some small areas under Arendelle's control, one of them Blackrock Temple.

Mark merely grumbled to himself, slowly getting up while grabbing the book that nearly broke his nose and setting it on the table as he walked towards Elsa. 'The last time something like this happened I couldn't move and my Eagle Vision was forced to activate and grow at least ten times more powerful...why would this be different?' he was confused; probably more confused than Elsa, who had never seen anything like this before.

He looked to Blackrock Temple and raised a brow, examining it. He remembered something about it in one of his many incursions into the Castle's main library, but whatever it was escaped him at the moment. He looked at the Piece of Eden and the fingers of his right hand twitched. If he touched it... would it force another vision? It looked to be made of Duradaeden. And the last time he touched it with his bare hands he was forced into meeting Elena.

Not that he wasn't thankful for that experience; he just wasn't eager to repeat it. Though curiosity did nag at him.

Idun's hologram continued speaking "At her advising I hid them across the kingdom, to keep them from being found I encoded them in such means that only one from my flesh and blood can unlock their secrets." Very briefly the building that Mark had touched in the holographic model flashed again, the map zooming in, the rapidly flickering building hovered in the air over the desk. "Those who wish to do us harm must never find them. The secrets contained within only one of the Royal Bloodline can unlock." The map faded briefly and what looked like a video screen of a sort flickered into view.

The screen showed the Wolfe Manor, back when Idun was growing up, And over the course of the brief few moments the Manor was soon seen to be the heart of a viscious battle, briefly shifting vision showing a young boy with a young woman fleeing by ship to the South. Another woman was briefly seen helping two others away while a man was spotted ducking into a underground entry. Smoke filled the vision on the screen before it broke apart and faded. "Their line was taken, with my help they managed to survive. With his help..." Arendelle faded back into view, what had once been a bright and vibrant kingdom was soon overrun in darkness, stores were seen shut down and boarded up, the poor increasing. Soon all that was left was the Marketplace District and the Castle itself. "With his help, Arendelle can be set free of His influence"

The map disappeared and only Idun was left, the golden lines from under her feet lit the room slightly as she looked directly at Elsa; though it was a light made image, Elsa reached out to her mother as Idun spoke. "Elsa, if you are seeing this now and I am not here to tell you this. I love you..." Idun flickered and faded away. Almost instantly as Elsa reached for her mother, Briefly something flickered by the fireplace just off her vision.

Mark turned away as the battle for Wolfe Manor was shown. Those were painful memories. Memories he did not wish to acknowledge yet. He looked to the book and opened the cover.

Arendelle's Guardians.

A History of The Arendelle Assassini

By Flowerfist the Fair and Second Wolfe

With additional notes and revisions by

Princess Elena, Queen Marissia and Charity Wolfe

He turned the next page, read the first few sentences, and then closed it. He found what he was looking for. He'd read it later. But for now; there was more to do. As the projection of Idun left, Mark turned, tucking the book into one of the pockets on the inside of his coat for later. He then looked around, and yet again something caught his eye by the fireplace.

He blinked a few times. Something was there. Focusing, his Eagle Vision took hold, his eyes blazing bronze as it happened. "Elsa... use the sight Matthew taught to you." He said calmly, looking around the room with his eyes; everything was... different. Especially the two glowing switches on either side of the fireplace.

Elsa didn't notice right away as Mark spoke, her hand were her mother once stood, well a hologram of her mother. She must have recorded that, somehow, in this room ? But what did she mean by His influence ? Very briefly as she blinked still holding the Piece in her left hand she turned towards mark, her eyes briefly Silver over their normal Sapphire blue hue. "Tell me you know what my mother meant by what she said ? Does she mean the Templars, not finding them, what does she want me to find ?" So many questions but...

"Wait... what ?" She set the Piece back on its stand and stepped over to the fireplace. Barely touching the lever on the left side, the fireplace lowered, but that was it, just a blank emopty room, but where did the smoke go ? Was there even smoke to begin with ? She had no idea there were two levers. One lowered the fireplace itself, the other opened the wall behind it

Mark raised his eyebrows, walking to the other lever and pulling it; the wall behind the fireplace opening, a rush of cold, stale air rushing past the two of them, flaring out the tails of his coat briefly and making his hair rustle ever so slightly as he cleared his throat, eyes blazing bronze still. Slowly the wall opened and Mark stepped through the opening, offering his hand and arm to Elsa calmly without looking to her as lines running along the walls, ceiling, and floor all glowed a dim blue; providing just enough light to see clearly.

I ... suppose you can add this to the list of 'weird shit you never thought was possible in Arendelle List' he thought calmly as he walked, a staircase coming into view now as he tentatively placed a foot on it, making sure it was stable enough to hold him and Elsa both. He then smiled to Elsa and nodded, continuing down.

As the wall opened behind the fireplace Elsa stared, was this what her mother meant by not finding them ? She knew of nothing of this in her mothers journal she so far had. Stepping into the dimly lit hall of sorts with her arm entwined with Marks as they stepped along the slight curve in the hall before reaching stairs the door and fireplace lifted back up and locked into place. Letting out a breath she let Mark test the weight to make sure the stairs worked, the glasslike grey blocks flickered with pale blue and gold energy lines along the floor and the walls in pale gold.

"What is this place ?" Elsa said aloud as they finally reached the bottom, it must have been well more then several hundred steps to get to that point alone. There was a door blocking their path, a tall door by the look of it. and it looked like steel of some form. Elsa stepped up to the door and felt along its ridges, pale gold light flickered where she touched. Machinery of strange make activated as the hall behind and around them seemed to wake up. Lights from nowhere flickered on. Showing a few pedestals and placemarkers... Well, this was interesting

Mark examined the wall, his eyes flashing brighter as he took a good look at it. "It... looks like it needs a key of some sort... but I dunno what that could be... Maybe the map was telling us where it was?" He asked, looking to Elsa calmly for a reaction from her before looking back to the wall. "I... can feel something on the other side of this wall. But..." He reached out to touch the wall, but held himself back, hand inches away from the surface, but shaking slightly; as if he were forcing it forward, or forcing himself to not touch it.

"It... I... I can't... I'm not supposed to, I think." He said, his voice lowering in tone as he became more thoughtful.

"What do you mean ?" Elsa didn't notice at first but when she did she simply reached out a hand and lifted Marks chin up. Basically as if telling him 'My face is up here' "This door needs a key ? Where would it go ? I dont see a keyhole anywhere" She brushed her fingers barely on the surface of the door before turning back towards the pedistals. There were three on each side, and also two columns seperating them all.

Stepping over to one of the pedistals she used her magic to flick away the dust. "What if these pedistals are the keys ?" she said thoughtfully. The party was in full swing upstairs. "And we just need the... statues ? That go on them to unlock the door ?" she brushed off more dust. finding a name. "There's a name here... My grandmother's name..." She said reading the engraving, perfectly kept and dust free it said Queen Ingrid II. "Mark... your eyes are still bronze, come on, snap out of it, the room is brighter here..."

Mark shrugged, assuming that, like the door, it wasn't his place to touch the pedastals. "I assume they're hidden somewhere in the Kingdom then?" he asked calmly. He then coughed a few times, shaking his head. "Hate this stale air..." he grumbled, coughing again before sighing.

"Stale air ?" Elsa asked, she said nothing further as she felt a sudden draft and heard more machinery rumbling to life. Looking around she saw her snowflakes spinning madly in place as air flitered out and fresh cooling air gently filtered in, fresh and breathable. Well, that was interesting.

But his mention of the kingdom, and six statues... "Wait, what if they're not statues ? What if these are for burial urns ?" Elsa said, going to another pedistal she found another name this one of her ancestor that Blackmane had saved, Queen Marissa, She turned back to Mark, an estatic look on her face. "These are my ancestors names. What if Mother hid the urns across the kingdom to keep this place safe ?"

Mark breathed in slowly, and nodded; this air was better for sure. He looked around, confused again. Today was just full of surprises, it seemed. Mark then put a hand on his chin and thought. Urns would make sense, considering the size of the key-holes in the pedastals. "I wouldn't doubt it. Your family has a history with the Assassin Order; I've no doubt some old hiding techniques were passed down through your lineage." He said.

He then looked to the pedastals once more, and an idea came to him. "Perhaps... if we head to places that your ancestors frequented in their life-times, we will find the urns?" He suggested calmly.

"It doesn't make any sense" Elsa said thoughtfully "None of my ancestors were burned when they were buried, Mother showed me the vault where her mother was laid when I was little. It must be something in the urn, unless its a statutte of each of my ancestors that locks this thing somehow." It was true, the entire royal line was buried in horizontal vaults under Arendelle for ages.

"So if it is a urn or six we need to find to unlock, whatever is in there... Where do we look first ?" Elsa wondered aloud. none of this made sense at that moment, there was nothing in her mothers journals that she had so far about this room to begin with.

"What about that blinking light that the map showed us? What if they were there?" Mark then asked. "It's entirely possible that they're hidden so inconspicuously that they're bloody hard to find." He offered.

There must be some way to figure this out, that he was sure of. That map made little sense, this vault-type thing made little sense; and the two of them combined made even less sense. He sighed and crossed his arms. "My sister probably would have been able to figure this out no problem." he muttered; recalling how smart she was, even if she was younger than him.

"Do you think we could go ? What about the party ? The festival, Tomas said something of another painting he wanted me to see first light tomorrow" Elsa said, briefly she played with her braid before nodding "Alright, I think if Snowfeather or Blackmane can cover for us being gone we can sneak out and try to find the journal. Do you remember the building, at least, where it was on the map ?" Could they resummon the map ?

Elsa raised an eyebrow confused "You had a sister ?" Was that the woman and girl she saw on the window thing when her mother was speaking to them ? She wasn't exactly sure of what she was seeing at that point, or how it was even on a wall, like a little window of a sort. How one could make a memory play, like how they rewatched her dreams maybe ?

"You're the Queen, if you want to go somewhere within your own kingdom, who's to stop you?" he asked with a small smile. "Sure you might be called a bad hostess by those who don't favor you as well as other's but who cares about them, right?" he chuckled, crossing his arms. "Although, we can be quick and I can get you back here long before it's time for you to sleep." he added.

When question as to the location of the blip on the map he nodded. "Near the Wolfe Manor." He answerd calmly, then the quesiton of his sister came and he was quiet for a moment, turning. "Yes... I have a sister." he said. "Little Marion Wolfe; the prodigy of the current Wolfe Clan." He chuckled. "She was always smarter than me." he said, he then shook his head. "That's not important right now, though. If you wish to know what I'm willing to tell,, it can wait until after the parties are done and over with. Otherwise, you won't have all the fun expected from these celebrations!" he said, opening his arms as he laughed; trying to lighten the mood quickly and effortlessly.

"Now then; how's about a round of Free Running down to Whitehall?" he asked.

Elsa stepped from the pedistal with her ancestors name on it and stood looking towards the massive door. "She sounds like someone Anna could get along with easily. That... dream, we both saw what Mother showed us right ? With what I just saw, I doubt it'd dampen my week. Just hearing Mothers voice..." She faltered, a soft smile on her face as she remembered hearing her mothers voice. Seeing well not exactly seeing, her mother right there in the room with them. "Just hearing her voice, seeing her... sort of. I think I can handle bad news this week. Besides. Mother mentioned something about 'his help' what did she mean by that exactly ?" Who was her mother talking about ?

She waved a hand as if dismissing the thought. "You're right, I'm Queen, Anna has Snowfeather and Blackmane at her back, are you sure you want to freerun it ? It might look out of place with all the partygoers, every district is having something going on." She said, but he was right, she was queen and the only person or persons who'd call her a poor hostess is the Duke and his jerks in his group.

Mark was silent when Elsa asked about 'his help', as if thinking about it. He gripped his forehead, fingers squeezing his temples as he let out a slow, annoyed breath. "Protect her. Protect your family. Protect the Heart of the Mountain." blared in his head yet again. Man it was annoying!

"Fine I'll do it, as if I had a choice in the matter..." He grumbled, shaking his head.

Elsa saw how Mark held his head in his hands. If he gripped his head any tighter he's hurt himself! reaching to her friend she asked. "Mark, what is it ? Are you alright ?" When he spoke she stared at him, what did he mean ? Briefly her mothers words rang in her ears i'With his help, Arendelle can be free of His influence!'/i Was this what his mother meant ? "Do what ? What do you mean ? What are you to do ?" She asked him. She had no idea he spoke with her ancestor Elena.

So she asked remembering when he said their ancestors had guided him "Wait, you mentioned that when you made your armor and our necklaces, that you were guided by our ancestors. What exactly happened ?"

Mark turned to look at Elsa, taking a deep breath before musetering up the words to tell her. "The night before the party seven months ago, I touched the Duradaeden with my bare hands. When I did, my body was locked, and one of your ancestors, Elena, came to me." He explained. He paced for a second before turning towards her again. "She told me to protect you; no matter the cause; she showed me things; how to make the armor, how to make soft the unbreakable metal. How to protect what she called 'The Heart of the Mountain', which I assume means you and Anna." He continued.

"It's from her that I learned that the Whitehall Manor is actually the Wolfe manor; my family has had a presence here in Arendelle for almost as long as your family has." He explained. "The Wolfe Clan has always been your protectors and advisors, and closest friends. It is our duty to protect you and your family at whatever cost; even our lives." he said calmly, withdrawing the book he took from the library from his jacket. "This book will have more info on everything... I need to know. There's more to this story than I could imagine; than either of us could imagine." he said, smiling softly before replacing the book.

"I just thought... if I verbally agreed to Elena's orders... she'd quit screaming in my head to protect you." He whispered softly.

Elsa stared at Mark, "My... ancestor... spoke to you seven months ago ?" She pointed back up the curving stairs behind her "Like how Momma spoke to us about... this ? Was it you my mother meant when she said 'with his help' ? Or did she mean Matthew ?" Matthew had disappeared 8 months before, barely a month or so after Elsa and Mark had rescued Anna from the CIA. "She could not have meant Matthew, he's... been gone... again... No matter. Mother meant someone when she said 'him' I hope truly that she meant you. If my Ancestor spoke to you when you touched the... whatever it was that you called it ? Mike how Momma spoke to us moments ago"

It took Elsa about a minute or two, but finally she figured it out. "Something important is behind that door, something mother spoke about. The Wolfe Manor needs extensive rebuilding. And there is a party on this week. So, as soon as the party is over at the end of the week, I want you to select as many men from the workers we have to help rebuild the Manor. Also, I'm going to make it offical, tonight in fact, as soon as we get back to the party upstairs. Whitehall District is no more, it's what it should be, Wolfe District." Elsa had spotted a map barely decernable on the wall, her eagle vision made her eyes briefly flicker silver when she spotted it out of the corner of her eyes, it showed the full 71 distrcts of Arendelle, and where Whitehall was, a different name was in its place, Wolfe.

Elsa smiled then however "Come on, no doubt everyone is starting to wonder where I went with you. And some will want to speak with me or you or us both" She said to Mark, a sweet smile on her face, they could worry about finding the statues later. Besides, she was not going back upstairs to the party without Mark by her side, she felt safest with him

Arendelle Castle Courtyard

At that same moment

The Duke noticed first and foremost a marked increase in Assassin presense in Arendelle, there was easily two dozen of the hooded men and women in the courtyard alone. None of them wearing the Arendelle markings but all of them wearing the trademark hoods. The Duke wasn't able to see if any had weapons, but he iknew/i the weapons were present. Heck, he was let through the gates by two of them alone with his invitations. The dark suited man with his party had quickly disappeared, The Duke was glad for two reasons about that fact, for one the dark suited man scared him, and for two, the dark suited man unnerved him something fierce.

The Duke soon spotted Snowfeather, a dark smile graced his face as he saw who the white haired woman was speaking with. Great, Princess Anna of Arendelle was also present. Wonderful. Not exactly the women he wanted to speak to, but the woman in question, Snowfeather, he had a bone to pick with. Confidently striding through the many partygoers the Duke, and his two bodyguards, the same two he had try to take out Elsa with him came right up to Snowfeather and Princess Anna. The Duke noticed a ring on Anna's left hand, clearly an engagement ring.

"Princess Anna, I see the Queen has blessed a marriage ?" The Duke said snidly to the woman, had Snowfeather not been there, Anna would have easily decked the Duke where he stood and it'd be justified. The Duke was not very welcomed within Arendelle, and being assaulted there was not the best of things.

"I'd hold your temper if I were you" Came the calm voice of Snowfeather. Snowfeather towered over the Duke, nearly double his hieght, and yet, her temper was strangely calm. She took note of his fellows "These are the two you entered in the contest tonight ?" She meant the sparring battle, Snowfeather herself was included in that, heck, she was the one most were sparring with.

"Yes" The Duke replied calmly, well, as calmly as was able, he was in deep shit and he knew it, but he didn't give a damn anyhow at that point. His men gave Snowfeather careful looks before the Duke smirked and spoke anew "We still have a date do we not ?"

"Not any more." Snowfeather replied

"What do you mean exactly by that ?" The Duke asked

"Exactly what it says in fine print." Snowfeather smirked

The Duke looked ready to blow a gasket as he calmly replied "Where is the Queen ? We have a deal to make" Snowfeather knew the truth.

"Leave your men with me when you go to see Elsa, and your deal will be made. And your men well treated." Snowfeather said calmly in reply

"Very well, that works for me!" With a look to his men, the two soldiers of Weselton, which both Elsa and pretty much all of Arendelle pronounced as Weasletown, were ready to spar with Snowfeather. And yet for the moment, all seemed well. Too well. The Duke was soon directed into the castle to the Study where Elsa did all her dealings.

As the duke left Anna sighed, thankful that Snowfeather was there lest she do something stupid before everyone. Turning to her friend she said with a soft smile. "Thank you."

"You do not need to thank me Anna, thank Georgina's bodyguard." Snowfeather was Elsa's swordsworn bodyguard for the next few years. And yet not many knew exactly what was going on. "Come on, its almost time for the sparring contest." Anna smiled, at least the Duke did not ask exactly where Elsa was, or who she was with.

Over by the gates as soon as all the guests were within; those with invitations at least, Georgina nodded to 'Diana' it was time to mingle and observe, keep things civil, in this case that meant 'keep track of the Duke and where he went and keep Elsa safe even with Mark present' Georgina was taking a very big risk putting Diana, who was really Marks younger sister Marion, in the same room as her brother with their worst enemy.

Diana... no, Marion nodded, and vanished into a passing crowd, following the Duke calmly, silently, and rather expertly for someone still reletively new to the Order and its ways. It must have come naturally. Weaving through the crowds, she couldn't help overhear some conversations going on around her.

"Who was that man that introduced the Queen?" Sad a older fellow

"I dunno, but I've seen him around her a lot recently." Said a man with him

"You don't think they could be..." Asked a young lady

"Possible... I wouldn't rule out anything." Said another

"He's handsome" Said a third young lady.

It was true, Mark had been spending a heck of a lot more time with Elsa, after all he was her new teacher and primary protector now that Matthew was gone. But these rumors. How? What? Marion couldn't understand them; at least, not yet. She either had to see more, or didn't want to understand them. Either way, though, it wasn't important at that moment, as she had to do her job: Follow the Jerk of a Duke.

The Duke did not know he was being followed, he was mouthy like normal as he was lead by one of the many soldiers of Arendelle to the study, the door held open for him, the soldier never saw Diana following his charge as he held open the door for a servant to exit as the Duke took a seat in the room. Bookshelves lined the walls. Elsa was not in the massive room... yet. there were plenty of places to hide though!

A few moments later and Elsa was located on the upper floors, with her was Mark, the servant spoke of someone wiating in the study downstairs as Elsa locked her mothers bedroom door with a snowflake lock. But only one other could open it besides herself, besides, Mark needed access to her mothers library too. Another minute and the two stood outside the study door. Two guards on either side. Taking in the two men Elsa spoke up thoughtful. "Either someone important waits for me inside or my worst enemy is inside the study. which is it ?" She asked, turning her gaze to Mark. Niether of them knew who waited for them inside the study.

Mark looked to Elsa as she looked to him, his eyes flashing Bronze for a second. "Would you like me to go first? With my armor on in case they try anything?" He asked her calmly. Slowly the armor began to materialize on his body again, a silent, beautiful glow pulsing across his body. A servant gestured to the door to the study the Duke sat in, and Mark nodded to him, the armor materializing on his body fully at the point, his eyes glowing bronze as he raised his hood.

"Her Majesty Queen Elsa of Arendelle approaches." A servant said as the door opened. But it would not be Elsa that the Duke's eyes would fall upon at that second; but Mark, who stared directly at him with a stern expression while the armor glowed with life.

Marion had slipped inside unseen by all, and sat on a chair at the door silently, one leg crossed over the other and her fingers splayed out in a tower-like shape as she watched everything that was going on.

Mark made no motion that he had seen her, or that he knew that she was even there, and instead remained silent as he approached a chair at the end of the table and pulled it out for Elsa, who was just behind him. He would always be near her; at least two feet to be safe, with his arms either loosely at his side or crossed over his chest.

The Duke turned as the servant spoke, about time, he was about to stand and complain of having to wait for so long in a poorly lit study but the words of his complaint faded from his mind when someone, not the Queen, stepped into the study, Elsa right behind, Ok, her dress looked... darker then normal. Was that normal ? He barely recalled the first time he really ever met Elsa, so prestine, so poised, so... scared. Yet now she seemed calmer, braver, and more... in control ? He couldn't tell. He watched stone silent as The first person to enter, a armored man, it had to be a man, nobody in their right mind could wear that kind of armor! the Duke took it all in. He watched as the man pulled a chair for the queen to take a seat upon

When Elsa had sat she saw who waited for her, and simply smiled. Ah, her enemy, the man who tried to kill her through his men, at least it wasn't Hans. Elsa set her hands upon the table, her fingers steepled briefly as she regarded the Duke as she turned towards the door, a servant stood there, a brief nod and the lights in the room were turned up a bit, less dim then before. Elsa turned back to the Duke, failing outright to notice anyone else in the room with them. "It has been a while has it not ?" Elsa asked the man who had sent his men to kill her in the past. "No bodyguards this time ?" Elsa was tempted to ask if the men had failed him and were let go, but chose to keep her tongue, for the moment.

Marion looked to her brother..."Mark..." she mouthed silently while quietly wiping her cheek. He looked so... powerful. So strong and healthy and ... well, maybe happy wasn't the right word at the moment. Their mother would be proud to have a young man like him as her son; heck, she was proud. Any mother would be proud; she was sure of it! That blaze of his eyes; the bronze staring seemingly at everything within range and taking it all in at once...it unnerved her to some degree, and she couldn't really explain it.

Mark's adams apple dropped in his throat; he had changed the tone and pitch of his voice,and would use this deeper, more intimidating voice whenever he spoke. "I believe our dear friend did not want to offend you with their presence, your Majesty." He said calmly, not taking his eyes off the Duke while he placed a hand gently on the back of the chair Elsa sat in.

The Duke smiled, "They are busy... elsewhere" He said, trying to keep his temper in check, Mark was rather imposing, and his tone meant keep things civil, well, how civil could the Duke be ? Well, lets find out! "An old friend is taking care of them as we speak. You know her most likely, Snowfeather I believe her name is" He said, if he was trying to get a reaction out of Elsa, it failed. She just blinked at him apparently bored to even look at him. In the somewhat brighter light the Duke noticed her ice dress was a darker shade, was that red ?

"That is good then, why are you here ?" Elsa finally asked after a brief second or two of thought, trying to piece together why the man who sent men to kill her was in her study of all places. What did he want ? She sat up on her chair and looked at the Duke intently. The man trapped in her gaze smiled thinly

"Oh it is rather simple really." He cast a glance towards Mark, "I simply want to restart trade between Weselton and Arendelle" Elsa smirked. Well... that was something she'd have to think about. The look Elsa threw him, that glare, solid, direct, yet calm and tranquil, as if she had nothing else around her as she focused on him. Well. That gaze was nervracking for sure. the Duke figidited under her gaze as he tried to match it. "Truth is, Weselton has fallen on hard times" Sure it had, I was there a year ago, in your basement "Reestablishing trade between us would help alleiviate that." It was actually partly true. only the capital of Weselton was in good shape, everything else was pretty much roughing it.

Mark's eyebrows raised at the suggestion of trade; but the intensity of his gaze only deepened somehow. He crouched down to whisper into Elsa's ears. "Consider this extremely carefully. True, it would allieviate their suffering people and relations between Arendelle and Weselton... but it would allow Templars to infiltrate our borders quicker and provide them with funding. Of course... that's a double edged sword, as we'd get the same wealth and spy network." His voice was just barely a whisper; and one could almost hear the tension in the room even iwith/i Mark's whispering.

Marion leaned foward slightly; trying her hardest to hear what her brother was saying to Elsa, who from what she could see, remained emotionless and staring at the Duke. This was... extremely tense and draining; even for her; a fresh recruit, of the Wolfe family, no less!

Elsa listened to Mark, This was indeed something she was going to have to carefully think on. Very carefully think on. She nodded then, both to the Duke and to Mark's words. "The festival lasts seven days, on the eve of the seventh day, I will give you my thoughts upon restarting trade with Weasletown." She had intentionally misspoke his countires name. Just get his ire up. But the Duke oddly remained calm. For the moment the Templar Grand Master was content with her current choice, She needed to think on the trade agreement. He could give her that.

"Very well" The Duke nodded, "Seven days, We will discuss it more then." He was already plotting on how to take down Elsa, or at least get her out of his hair for a while, his mind working a mile a minute on different ideas, each one included her bed among other things, bed, food, get her slightly ill perhaps ?

"Good" Elsa stood up from the table "I will see you in seven days. You are welcome to stay here in the castle in the guest wing if you would like" Ok that was a bad move, yet it was also a very good move at the same time. In this case Elsa could keep an eye on the Duke and his men with her own men and Assassins, and make it look as if nothing was amiss, maybe even intionally give fake information, or already finished contracts in plain view for him to find, string him along as long as she could.

As Elsa stood the doors were opened and as they were, Marion stood and ducked out of the door, taking up a position just outside and posing as one of the many Assassins spread out among the castle to stand guard. As Elsa stood and turned to move, Mark's stood as well and let his arms hang loosely at his sides. He gave a slight nod to the Duke as he turned and left; a common show of courtesy. After all, the Duke didn't reach Grandmaster by simply sitting on his ass all day. At least, not to Mark's knowledge, which considering his habits in libraries, was very extensive.

As they exited the door closed behind him and Elsa, and he shifted his voice back to normal. "I think that went rather well. Now you don't have to see him for another seven days." He said. "If you don't want to, that is." He added calmly, softly.

Elsa stepped ino the hall and a few paces later she spoke her mind "We do not know for sure if what he says is true. When I was in his basement dungeon eversobriefly with Snowfeather and Blackmane, the building seemed well cared for. But I did not see much if at all" She sighed as she walked, thoughtfully so. "Send two of our more experienced recruits to Weselton, have them desguise as merchants, they are merely to observe the state of the country and its citizens" She said, "They return in seven days, and when they give their report, it is afterwhich when I give the duke my answer to his proposal."

The Duke watched them leave, briefly seeing a third exit before them. Dratted Assassins were everywhere in the kingdom now! He started thinking on proper trade proposals, act as if nothing was amiss, he had no idea his men were under Hans orders to try and take out the queen, when the Duke merely wished to try and treat with her, turn her onto his side.

Elsa was thinking on how to trap the duke in his own actions. Of course Mark wouldn't approve, heck she doubted that if Matthew were there still that he'd approve. Using herself as bait, her birthday in two days time. But it didn't matter. She smiled and continued walking, heading back towards the ice rink courtyard. Doubtless people wondered where she had been!

In the courtyard things were going smoothly, A lower ranking assassin recruit that Georgina had under her wing arrived and informed her of something important, Well, the templars were daring that was for sure. She thanked the man and went to find Mark, the recruit staying at her post to keep watch on things. She had to inform Mark of this development

Mark nodded at the order to send two recruits to Weselton. "It'll be done quickly." he said calmly. He walked with her down the corridor further before tilting his head to either side, his neck cracking audibly before he sighed. "Who knew a tense meeting with our sworn enemy would be so...boring." He said calmly, making an attempt at a joke as he and Elsa rounded a corner, heading for the Courtyard where the party was being held.

"Come then, Elsa. You'd be a poor host if you didn't greet your guests in person, I should think." He said with a smile as he quickened the pace with which he walked.

"You are right. Who knew it'd be so boring, if the Duke was trying to make me mad... he failed" She had a smirk on her face which quickly faded as she smiled, quickly sliding her left arm into his right as they walked along she nodded "Yes, I do need to greet the people in person. After all, they came to my party to begin with." She let Mark lead the way, thankfully if she wasn't with him she'd have run headlong into Georgina who was looking for Mark about something important concerning the Clearwater District, the templars there were hoarding supplies for the district in a large warehouse.

As Georgina came into view, Elsa quickly yet slyly slid her arm from Marks, she had no idea of the rumors, nor did Mark, or Georgina. Yet Diana did. Which was going to be an eye opener when they were revealed, to be truth and not simple rumor.

"Ah! There you are. Kai said you'd be in the study, I trust everything went well, no frozen dead men to clean up ?" Georgina's sense of humor was kicking in it seemed.

Mark did not react to Elsa slipping her arm in his or out of his, aside from closing his arm around hers when she slipped it in, and relaxing as she slipped out quickly. He looked to Georgina and nodded. "Indeed, no frozen bodies to clean up." Mark rolled with the humor and then cleared his throat again. "I trust everything is going well in the courtyard so far?" He asked calmly. He had to remember that they were still doing their jobs.

Marion... Diana... same person, made her way down the halls. She had tailed the Duke as ordered... now where was Georgina? She'd have to report everything. She half-walked, half-meandered through the corridors, taking the time to admire some paintings and sculptures that were scattered about.

"That is good, I suppose, yes, everything is going to plan, for the most part, one of our new recruits was doing a den observence of some districts just north of Whitehall, along the coastline, some of the islands there as well, the Clearwater Distrct." Georgina did not look too happy about the news she was about to spill like a shitload of bricks. "The templars there have a warehouse little smaller then the Chapel. Filled with supplies intended for the islands of Clearwater District, the people there it is reported, are starving."

Yes, that was not good news, not good news in the slightest. As Elsa listened her gaze went from merriment to sudden careful thoughtfulness to near outright anger; eversobriefly however snow snowflakes flickered about her. Oh this was not the least bit good news at all. As far as she knew, this news was awful! On her birthday celebrations of all days too! She started to pace, what to do, what to do ?

Mark noticed the snowflakes and put a reassuring hand on her shoulder, looking to her. "Well then; I guess we're going to Clearwater." He said calmly. "Elsa, we'll sneak out of the castle by way of Ulnaus, then head to Clearwater. We can work on getting that warehouse taken care of. Georgina, send some... relatively new recruits to hide and sneak around clearwater. They could use the experience. They'll also help distribute the food once Elsa here liberates it in the name of her people." He smiled, patting her shoulder as his armor seemed to pulse with light and his eyes flashed bronze.

"Come, Ulnaus awaits us on the nearest balcony."

Marion rounded the corner a few heartbeats later, only to find Mark and Elsa leaving Georgina rather quickly, and, approaching Georgina, she lowered her hood slowly. "So... what is my brother getting himself into now?" She asked softly, not meaning the mission in Clearwater, but the obvious affection between him and Elsa.

As she was guided towards a window and the balconey beyond she stopped, "Actually, we ? Even though its my party, my people are suffering. I'll go, the warehouse I know the area, My mother took me there a few times growing up when she visited friends in that disrict. I want you to cover for me here. I have to do this, well not have to do this, I want to do this. If anyone asks, I'm... currently indisposed" in other words, fake it. Basically

But of course Mark was one to insist. Finally she nodded "Alright fine, at least distract those here for the party for a few minutes before following ok ?" She gave Mark those clear sweet innocent eyes she possessed, pretty much the cute kitten look really. By then they were out of earshot of Georgina and Diana

"You noticed that too huh ?" Georgina asked from where she stood in the hall, She noticed right off at giving the news that Elsa wanted to go and figure out this newest problem as quickly as possible. "Clearwater District has a warehouse, and den, all in one, that needs liberating. Mark wants me to send some recruits to sneak around in Clearwater, and gather resources and learn the lay of the Islands as well. I want you to follow Elsa, from the sounds of things, she's going alone, keep her safe," Georgina handed Marion a walkie talkie type device, keyed to her own. "Use this, if anything goes wrong, you get gas, a leaf blows the wrong way, someone jumps Elsa, anything, call me. Got it ?"

Mark couldn't resist those eyes... at least not as he was. If he were more focused, then he could, but with his attention rather spread thin, he sighed and nodded. "Very well. I"ll distract the partygoers for a minute or two, then I'll join you by transport array." He said calmly. With that, he patted her back and went to a balcony overlooking the courtyard and raising his hand, attracting the attention of the partygoers easilly.

"We apologize for the delay of her Highness making an appearance to personally greet each and every one of you, but it seems that she is suffering from a rather... distasteful stomach ache at the moment. The healer is seeing to her, and she should be with us all in a matter of a few hours at best." he said before bowing to the people, and turning to leave. He cast a transport array in front of him and vanished into it. But not before letting out a few bird-calls, a large assortment of large, attractive birds flying to the courtyard to land and entertain the guests.

Marion clipped the walkie-talkie onto one of her coats internal pockets against her chest and nodded in responce. "Follow Elsa? Sure. I doubt I'll get gas... haven't eaten much today." She said before putting up her hood and using her own transport array to head to clearwater. It was the same color and design as Mark's but pulsed with a brighter amount of light, indicating that her magical abilities were stronger than her brothers.

Georgina smirked but said nothing regarding the gas comment, even so she knew Elsa was in good hands. After all, Marion had the experience to be a Den Master herself! But, Georgina knew she had to play it safe. After all, can't go about letting the Templars know she was alive to begin with. not yet anyway. She watched quietly as Marion disappeared and then she herself went back outside to the guests. Nearly pecked by a beautiful white cocatoo that was singing to the nearby orcrestra, which was actually kinda silly, but hey, with all the other birds in the courtyard, Georgina had to briefly wonder where they came from before remembering Mark had that gift she went back to her post to keep watch, the guests were indeed well entertained.

Though some of the guests hoped Elsa was going to be alright, given that Georgina did not hear Marks announcement concerning Elsa's current effective state, stomachache ? Yes, the Templars just gave her one, she had to set it to rights too. So in a way she was seeing the healer, just, not in the castle.

Clearwater District

Centeral Island

A few minutes later

A gentle swipe of ice was all it took, and a templar soldier, not in any colors Elsa recognised whatsoever, slid quietly to the ground. Her gaze was on a bell in the middle of the space, She'd spotted other templar soldiers briefly, but wasn't sure how many there were. Moving quietly forwards in the darkness she cast her ice at the bell, the ringer inside it fell out and to the ground, she quickly kicked it into some shrubs before pulling another templar into a small wardrobe and choking the guy to death. She peeked out, nobody noticed, perfect. For the moment. She ducked out of the hiding place and stayed in the shadows as much as she could. There weren't many Templars out and about. But what she idid/i see was a rather large ship coming not far away. Where there docks there ? Why was that ship coming this far north of the port itself ?

A flash of light in a nearby alley-way alerted some Guards at the gate of the warehouse. Staying at their posts, they readied themselves, eyebrows furrowed as they widened their stance slightly.

"The hell was that?"

"Hell if I know."

Mark then came hauling ass out of said Alleyway. He was wearing his full set of armor, hood up, but not wearing any weapons on him aside from the rope-dart hanging from his wrist, already swinging at a high-speed as he flung it at one guard, missing barely. He gritted his teeth and pulled back his right arm, jumping and landing a devastating right cross to the closest guard's jaw, shattering it while he then turned towards the other one, who began to pull out his dagger. Mark caught him by the wrist, and forced his arm to stab himself in the throat.

Mark then turned and lifted his leg, curbstomping the other guard's throat and twisting his heel.

"Oh, what the fuck!?" A Templar shouted in an exasperated, I'm-too-fucking-tired-for-this-shit-right-now kind of tone as he saw what had just happened. This man, the Captain no less of the district, and also the Key-holder Elsa saught, turned to run for the Alarm bell, heading right at Elsa.

OK, nobody around I think I can,... wait what ? Elsa was about to make a mad dash to the next thick area of ferns when a man all but ran her down. Fast as she could to avoid getting seen she snagged the man by the wrist and her left arm slashed across his throat as her ice blade froze his main artry dead on, killing him within a heartbeat. She laid him down in the ferns with her. Well, that was easy. Now where was the keyholder ? She started patting the man down. He seemed in a hurry. "Lets see, what do you have on... you now..." She plucked the key from around the mans neck. Perfect! Wha ? She heard birds. Lots of birds She darted off and hid in some more thick greenery, it was time to raid the warehouse... but why all the birds What good were they ?

A soldier came upon the bodies where Mark stood, "You there! Hold a moment!" The man joined by six others never saw his leader take ice to the neck by the Queen herself. But when he identified Mark his stature changed considerably. "You're coming with us" The six soldiers pretty much surrounded Mark, none of them knowing who he really was as behind them their leader was dead in the bushes and what was more, the warehouse key was in the Queens possession. And Elsa figured out why all the birds, She actually needed to find that warehouse door, so naturally she climbed up the tower. There was no firerope, nor grease. Just plain sandpaper, which itched a bit, but not too badly, she quickly scampered up the tower using the shadows to hide herself as much as she could. with the red in her dress it was easy.

A Sparrow would be the one to sit on the torch in front of Elsa as she climbed to the top of the tower, chirping happily as it then looked to the oil drum and hay in the center before flying away. Mark raised his hands as the six Templars surrounded him, a... unnerving smirk on his face that made the Templars grip the handles of their blades tightly.

"Get moving!" A Templar shoved Mark, making him move towards the warehouse while the six surrounded him still. Mark moved calmly, his fingers opening and closing, the claws of each of the gauntlets shimmering in the light of the moon and stars. "A fine night for a bonfire, don't you think lads?" Mark asked calmly to the Templars around him.

Elsa took a careful look around the district, she could see it all from up there, even the festival, or the lights and banners from it, from that tower. It had to be highest tower in the kingdom. Even though it was on an island. Time to light it. She spotted the sparrow after briefly looking around for the chirping. A soft smile on her face as she reached first to the sparrow to give it a thankyou belly rub of a sort before grabbing hold of the torch. Time to light it!

She looked down off the tower, spotting a haystack she tossed the torch onto the oil drum which quickly lit up like a bonfire before swiftly climbing down half way. It was time for some fun, after all, it was her party! Halfway down she spotted the group surrounding Mark, and aimed to land on one of them as she pushed off the tower.

The soldiers were confused by what Mark meant by bonfire. "Are you off your rocker ?" Said one, who'd taken out a pistol and held Mark at gunpoint. Not two seconds later did Elsa land dead on the guy, snapping his neck just on the landing alone, that in and of itself threw the soldiers into a panic, If the queen was there, that meant trouble, lots of it.

Mark made no movements at the sight of a pistol in his face. His grin only got wider. "There is a distict possibility." He answered, making eye contact with the man just before Elsa dropped onto him, causing the gun to up in the air. Mark caught it, and brought it around, smacking one guard with it before grabbing him with his free arm, using him as a body-shield while he shot another one dead in the face.

Marion sprang into action then as well, darting with blinding speed from the tree she was sitting in and landing on another Templar, blades in his neck as he crumpled to the ground.

Mark let out another shot, and another Templar fell to the ground. Leaving one for Elsa while Mark grinned even wider while pressing the barrel of the gun to the temple of the man in his grip, who struggled to get out. "Ah-ah! You'll watch your last friend die by the Queen's hand, then you'll join him." Mark growled, pressing the barrel harder into his temple, making him stop struggling out of fear, a distinct wet spot in his armor running down his leg.

What seemed a simple 'drop-on-the-target-break-his-neck-on-landing' ended up becoming a full on no-holds-barred-fistfight. In otherwords, Elsa's birthday was indeed a smash hit that year for sure. Elsa ducked a wild punch as the templar she faced, the last once reached for his gun, only to find it frozen to his hip as he ended upo trading kicks, and punches with Elsa for about a minute until she dodged a wild punch that sent the man sailing clean past her, and slitting his own throat on a icicle she'd stuck in the ground behind her. The man gurgled as he breathed his last. Elsa patted off her hands, that was that. She held up a hand towards Mark "Hold it! Let him talk, he seems to know something. Diana, get his gear off him"

The soldier Mark held was white as a leaf, and clearly quite young, possibly no older then twenty or so. With a family, parents, maybe a child of his own ? It was clear the guy would much rather be at the festival then get killed. But all the other men were older more vile men. This guy was the only youngster out of the bunch in the entire district!

Just as Mark's finger was about to pull the Trigger, Elsa stopped him, and he looked to her, his finger moving from the trigger to the side so it wouldn't twitch or slip. "Diana" held up her hands and shook her head before crossing her arms. "He just wet himself, Majesty. I'm not touching him." she said simply. It was a fair enough point. Hell, even Mark backed off a few inches, making the young man lean back slightly.

"You'll answer everything the Queen says with at least three words, or you'll eat your tongue tonight. Understood?" Mark asked the man, who frantically nodded before Mark relaxed slowly, letting the man stand on his own.

Ok fine... Elsa found herself thinking, the man was clearly young, obviously not wanting to even be a templar, seeing how Elsa took out first his commanding officer, she landed on him for fuck sake! And then her magic implaing the others. To be honest the young man, named Joshua, was actually wanting to be attending the party with his parents and wife. With a sigh Elsa titled her head towards the young man, asking simply "What is your name ? Why are the Templars hoarding food here ? What is their plan with this warehouse ?" A few templar soldiers arrived, they had spotted the signal fire. Elsa motioned them to empty the warehouse and give the food and supplies within to those that needed it most dire.

The man thought carefully, "My name is Joshua, your Majesty. I'm not sure exactly why, but apparently it has to do with recent happenings in the kingdom. Districts, according to him at least" He pointed at the commanding officer, the one that Elsa had landed on, "Had fallen to you or some such nonsense, I never really wanted to be part of this outfit anyhow. Nobody told me anything, only to guard here in the case of trouble. But." Joshua smiled, "I see my information reached the right ears" It was him that contacted by messenger bird to Georgina's recruits of the warehouse, he honestly wanted out of the templars control. "The food and supplies within the warehouse were to be shipped out on that ship tonight during the fireworks at the festival."

"That food and supplies will be given to the people in this district that need it the most. Now, get yourself cleaned up," Elsa said, she crafted a snowflake, her personal crest, and handed it to him, "Once cleaned up, go see Commander Freyla, give him this and tell him I sent you to him, I think you'd make a good agent for me to spy on the Templars."

Mark put the safety on the gun, and put it in his belt, letting it sit there in a sort of make-shift holster. "Diana... once the festivle is over this week, remind me to make a Holster or two for some pistols. I think they'd be most useful in combat now." He said. The younger woman nodded softly in responce, agreeing with him. "Actually... never mind. I'll have the leather-workers start pumping out Holsters for everyone while I work with some... old friends." he said calmly.

Mark still had contacts in the CIA in America and with a few favors that he'd earned, he could easily provide enough guns for the entirety of the Arendelle Assassin Order and Royal Guard to have at least two. He'd have to get his hands on a phone. Perhaps...the Templars had one in one of their dens. He'd have to go on another liberation spree to find out.

Diana looked to Elsa. "Come, your Magesty, your people await your arrival at the courtyard." She said, a transport array opening behind her. Mark's Transport Array, actually.

"Ah, yes...and if anyone asks you, you're okay now. You had a stomach ache and the healers have treated you effectively." Mark said to Elsa calmly before stepping through, appearing behind the closed doors to the courtyard. Once the three of them were there, Mark smiled and opened the doors before the birds all squaked and flew towards him to get the attention of the people again.

"Ladies and Gentleman! I present to you, Elsa, Queen of Arendelle!" he said, gesturing to her. A servant had quickly cleaned the blood off of Elsa's body before the doors were opened, and made her look presentable.

Elsa smiled and nodded, If anyone asked, she had a bad stomachache, and now the Healer had helped her out, perfect! She smiled, now was the time for the party to be sure! The birds flew about crazily, making weird patterns in the air. Elsa spotted a fountain and made it snow with some beautiful ice patterns, nothing like her coronation day