Chapter 8: Effectively stupid

The great hall was buzzing with talk about the recent trail. Some were ecstatic about the results, while others were more disheartened. Elsa thought it was odd behavior until she realized it was because many of them had wagered on the trial and who would emerge victorious. With the first trial finished, people were now Exchanging their winnings and losses.

"Shameless." Elsa watched the despicable actions take place. "Gambling on someone's life like tha—Kristoff what are you doing?"

The ice master and deliverer trickled gold coins from a bag onto his open palm, meeting Elsa's gaze with a "hand caught in the cookie jar" look. "What? It's not like betting on Drake is technically a gamble?"

She folded her arms like a stern mother. "And what would Anna have to say about this?"

"Say about what?" Her red headed sister joined the conversation with fistsfulls of jingling bags. The living snowman beside her carrying what she couldn't. S

Elsa's mouth dropped. "You three are awful!"

Anna looked at the bags then back to Elsa with a shaking head. "What this?! No, no, no this is for the kingdom! Ya know our struggling kingdom?"

Elsa raised a brow. "Is that so? All of it?"

Kristoff and Anna counted the bags. "Um, yes. All of it."

Elsa narrowed her eyes. "Well good. Put it in our room and we'll be sure to put it all in the treasury when we get home, and no more gambling!"

Anna stomped her foot with a whine. "But Elsa it's so much fun to win…" she shrank beneath her sisters stare, "I mean yes ma'am."

"MAKE WAY FOR THE CHAMPIONS!"

The remaining twelve champions were greeted with thunderous applause and cheers once they entered the great hall. Some of them accepted the applause with smiles, waves and basking in the adoration. Others, like the Raptor and Drake were searching the crowds for their respective royals.

Unable to see her waving, Elsa sent a small icicle into the air to show him where in the crowd they were. As relieved as she was that he was alright, she resisted the urge to hug him, but that didn't stop Anna from wrapping her arms tightly around his neck.

"Drake I'm so happy you're okay! We saw the whole thing and how they ganged up on you and tried to kill you, but you kicked all they're butts even without powers!"

"Yes, yes, yes," he grabbed her by the waist and set her aside, "but speaking of powers can I get these damn things off!" He flashed his shackled wrists to Elsa, who thankfully had the key, and his leather gauntlets on hand. She quickly unlocked him and handed him his gauntlets. Once on he pushed through the crowd and out of the hall.

"Where are you going?" Elsa called out to him.

He responded over his shoulder but didn't break stride. "I need to talk to Cynthia." Elsa took note of the frustration in his tone.

She turned to Anna. "Go back to our room and put all that away."

"Wait what? Where are you going?"

After Elsa had told her to leave she was already following behind Drake. "I'm going after him." And she vanished into the crowd.

—:0:—

Elsa was able to catch up to him before the doors to the moving box had closed. Instantly she noticed that he seemed frustrated and somewhat hurt.

When the doors shut she asked, "Are you okay?"

He nodded with his eyes downcast. "I'm fine."

Yeah she believed that. "You sure, cuz you seem—"

He snapped. "I said I'm fine!" She let out a small gasp. His powers must have been coming back since his eyes were black slits and the tips of his teeth had become pointed. Realizing what he had done, his face shifted back to normal and he began breathing heavily in shame. "Oh god. Elsa I'm sorry. I didn't mean to…"

"It's okay," Elsa breathed, but deep down she couldn't help but feel hurt. "Is it because—" as if anticipating her question he was already shaking his head.

"No. It's just," the doors to the moving box slid open, showing the hallway that would take them below to the tower docks, "if there was anyone that should have been in my corner it should be Cynthia."

She was still a bit startled by his outburst, but she still felt like he needed some sort of support. This being the case, she followed behind him until they came out onto the docks where Cynthia was seated with her feet dangling over the water. She turned around when she heard their footsteps against the wood. Her eyebrows rose as if she was surprised to see them.

She gave a crooked, somewhat impressed smile. "Well looks like you made it through the first trial."

"Powerless." Drake spat. Anticipating a confrontation, Elsa hung back, but she was still able to hear their conversation. "They put iron cuffs on me, to better keep the competition fair."

Her smile faded into a look of concern. "Are you okay?" Her eyes flitted from him to Elsa and back to him.

He waved her off. "I'm fine, but why weren't you there?"

As if knowing what this argument was about, she slowly got to her feet to face him. "I told you why I'm not supporting this, because it's stupid to risk your life."

"Well you still came with me didn't you, instead of ratting me out."

"Yeah I came!" She sputtered. "To try and talk you out of this! And now they're cuffing you? Does this seem okay to you?!"

"Of course it's not okay—!"

"Then why are you doing this?! And don't say because you're just trying to help!"

"That is what I'm doing! Isn't that what we were taught? To help people?"

She scoffed, rolling her eyes until they rolled onto Elsa. "Dad was right. Magic makes people feel entitled. She bats her eyelashes and you just come running."

Drake snorted smoke. "Don't talk about her like that. Especially since she's right there." He threw his arm towards Elsa who's hurt was shifting to anger.

Cynthia scoffed again as she turned to the snow queen. "So sorry if I offended you, your majesty."

Elsa was about to start yelling at her, explaining the situation she clearly didn't know, but her mouth slammed shut. Behind them she could see the ocean begin to bubble and bow, before something began to rise from below the water. Breathless she pointed, pushing their attention to the two serpent heads now emerging from the water. They looked like cobra heads with hoods shaped like fins for swimming.

"We'll talk about this later," Cynthia glared at her brother, "I'm still pissed at you for this by the way." She motioned to the sea serpents.

As they came closer, two flippered claws came onto the peer and lifted the serpents out of the water, showing Elsa that the two heads were connected to the same body. She gasped as an ocean blue light blinded her. She turned away and when she looked back the dragons were gone and instead stood a pair of human twins.

Well supposed twins.

While they had the same features, one was red headed with glasses while the other was brunette and had no glasses. As soon as their human forms left the ocean, both now starry eyed twins approached Cynthia, ignoring Drake all together.

"Hey Cyni!" They greeted collectively.

She folded her arms. "You know I hate that name, and I've threatened violence multiple times, what will it take to get you two to stop?"

Once again they spoke in unison. "Go out with me." Now they began to stare at each other down.

"Why you?! I've known her longer?!" The redhead asked.

"So? I saw her first and we both know that." The brunette spat.

"We're never apart how could you have seen her first?"

"You were facing the other way!"

"Boys!" Cynthia appeared both accustomed and fed up with their arguing. "You two are here for a reason, remember."

They Both face palmed and finally acknowledged Drakes presence. "Hey Drake good to see ya." After they all shook hands, Drake motioned behind him towards Elsa.

"Guys this is Elsa, Queen of Arendelle. Elsa, this AL," he motioned to the brunette, "and Frankie." He motioned to the red head.

Elsa clasped her hands and gave a bow of her head, when she came back up, the twins were staring at her with mouths open.

"Dude. That's the snow queen." AL pointed, "and she's a cutie."

"All you bro," Frankie nudged him with his elbow, "not into blondes."

"Is she blonde though? It's like white blonde?"

"That's called platinum blonde."

Elsa couldn't help, but mask her chuckling with her hand. "Dudes, She's right there." Drake threw his hand towards her. "Like two feet away."

As the twins were about to speak again, Cynthia slapped them in the back of the heads to shut them up. "Boys, we got to get to Arendelle."

They rubbed the back of their heads. "Arendelle? What's there?" Frankie asked.

"That's my kingdom." Elsa stated. She brought her hands up to her chest in a prayer like fashion. "And we need your help. You could be my only hope."

The twins exchanged glances until AL puffed his chest out. "Don't worry, your majesty. AL and Frankie are on it!"

"Frankie and AL."

"AL and Frankie."

SLAP!

"Coming!"

The two of them clapped hands together, joining blue rings on the fingers that encased them in light and jumped back into the water. The light bubbled, kicked and thrashed the ocean waves before bowing again, the water splitting as the two serpents reared their heads. One of them held a bag in its jaws that he tossed to Cynthia.

"Underwater capsules, good for two hours a pop." The AL head told her.

She grabbed a couple of capsules and plopped them into her mouth. "Four hours. Nice." The Frankie head lowered so Cynthia could climb on top of it. "Don't worry, your majesty. We'll find out what's happening with your fjord." She gave an exaggerated bow and spoke in an almost sarcastic tone that was rubbing her the wrong way. Cynthia tapped the Frankie head with her foot. "Onward."

"We won't fail you, your majesty!" The AL head exclaimed to Elsa.

Elsa watched the two headed sea serpent slither into the ocean. "Wait can they go underwater with Cynthia?"

Drake spoke in a plain almost bored monotone. "She was given underwater capsules. They'll help her breathe and see underwater." They stood staring into the ocean long after Cynthia and the twins had vanished beneath it. The air between them slowly becoming uncomfortable.

"I need to go back inside." She turned towards the tower with Drake a few steps behind her. Before they had gone back into the tower she turned towards him, her eyes downcast. "If it's okay with you, I just want to be alone right now."

He was nodding his head as if already knowing what she was requesting. "Don't worry about it. I need to see Arabella anyways." She felt a minute drop in her stomach. "But I'll escort you back."

She dipped her head. "I'd appreciate that." With hands in his pockets and her hands clasped in front of her, they slowly and awkwardly made their way back.

—:0:—

Arabella, and by extension Hans, was located on the floor below Elsa and her family, so Drake had to get out of the moving box before her. Stepping onto their floor they bid each other goodbye and she continued up. The ride had been quiet between them, mostly because Elsa was troubled by what Cynthia had said about her.

Of course I'm not entitled to their help. We're friends and that's what friends do, they help each other. If they didn't want to come they didn't have to, they chose too. I didn't "bat my eyelashes" or whatever. Cynthia's implication that Elsa was some spoiled brat, flirting to get what she wanted, only agitated her more.

Sure she flirted to get the twins to hurry back to Arendelle, but that was beside the point.

I don't even know how to flirt.

"Elsa?"

Her eyes fluttered, helping to break her from her thoughts, revealing that she had come to her floor, the doors to the moving box had opened, and was now staring at a confused Olaf.

Wow how long was I just standing here? "Hello Olaf how are—" she did a double take. On his pointed carrot nose was impaled a folded note. Even though it was clear as to what it was, she still felt the need to ask, "what's on your nose?"

His eyes crossed when he looked down at the paper. "Oh this is a note from Anna and Kristoff. They wanted me to give it to you when I saw you. Then they pushed me out of the room and locked the door behind them."

Her brows came together. "That's strange?" She took the note, unfolded it, and scanned her sisters messy handwriting.

Dear Elsa

Straight to the point, Kristoff and I are in a desperate need of alone time, if you know what I mean? Nudge, nudge, wink, wink, hint, hint. I knew you'd be okay with it since you're an awesome sister and there's so much for you to do here. We have a sock tied to the doorknob and if you see it gone you are free to enter.

Thank you so much. I knew you'd

Understand. Love Anna.

Xoxoxoxoxo

Elsa shook her head, but allowed herself a smile.

"What's it say?" Elsa quickly crumbled the note and took his hand.

"Nothing. We just need to give them some alone time?"

The two began to wander the hall, passed their room, with the sock on the doorknob, and continued. "Why? Why do they need alone time?"

She coughed nervously. Well this was gonna be interesting.

—:0:—

It wasn't that hard for Drake to find Arabella's room. He just followed the scent of campfire and fruit. For some reason she really liked Apples. He knew what he wanted to ask her, he was just hoping he could keep the conversation kept in that direction. The last thing he wanted was awkward questions about why they weren't together anymore.

He finally gathered the courage to knock on the door, but it seemed like waiting for her to answer was the most nerve wracking part. It was a few minutes before she finally opened the door and he quickly looked away.

"Oh come on," she rolled her eyes, "it's not like you don't know what goes on under the armor I wear."

He laughed awkwardly, trying to avoid the fact that she was dressed in nothing but a long sleeved shirt, her underthings, that he could see were a different, darker color than her shirt, and the jeweled gauntlet on her hand. "Just trying to preserve your dignity I guess."

She rolled her eyes with a laugh. "Oh just get in here." She stepped aside allowing her access to her room. It was smaller than Elsa's room, probably because it was just her, but it still held the same majesty and grandeur that he had come to expect from Dirgelaff at this point.

She moved passed him to a tray filled with ice, glasses and alcohol. "Drink?"

He pondered her offer. "I didn't think we could get drunk."

She poured him a glass. "Well you haven't been drinking enough then." He shrugged his head and took the glass. She poured one for herself and held it up to his. "To the first trial." They clinked glasses and took a drink. "So what brings you here? Is Cynthia gone already?"

He swirled his glass. "How'd you know?"

"I didn't see her at the trial. Figured she peaced out as soon as she could."

He laughed as he found his way over to a nearby couch. He didn't sit in it just leaned against the back. "You're not wrong. She's headed to Arendelle with Frankie and AL?"

She tilted her head as she took another drink. "What's in Arendelle? The royals are all here?"

Drake went through what he knew about Arendelle's issues with the black goop poisoning their oceans forcing them to enter this tournament for a chance at saving their kingdom. She listened intently, occasionally taking a drink before shrugging a shoulder.

"I guess it's a more honorable cause than most other contestants. I still don't know why Hans is here, by the way, honest truth."

"I believe you." He took a drink, not even registering the burning taste slithering down his throat. "I want to know why you left?"

She sighed, her head dipping in exasperation. "I've already told you—"

"—no you haven't. Please. I need to know."

She met his gaze and to her surprise found sincerity in his words. He wasn't being nosey, or judgemental, he seemed genuinely curious.

She joined him leaning against the back of the couch and let out a long breath. "I was on assignment in a small city a few days away from Bapharong. I don't even remember why I was there, some low level monster or whatever, but while I was there this small volcano suddenly erupted." His eyes went large. How had he not known that? "I know what you're thinking. 'Were not allowed to get involved with natural disasters', blah blah blah." Her head dipped again, suddenly finding more interest in her emptying glass. "But if you were there, and saw the terrified people, begging and pleading for help, you'd question things too."

He watched her cautiously as emotions began to swell within her. "I asked the masters of Bapharong to help, but they said no. Because we aren't allowed to mess with the natural order of things. If a volcano is erupting and ready to destroy a city, then it's meant to be."

"But that didn't stop you, did it?"

She chuckled and looked up at him with a red tinge to her eyes. "Never." She took another deep breath and drank the rest of her drink. "But there was only so much I could do. I evacuated some of the more prominent members, some children, but ultimately the city was swallowed in fire."

They sat in silence for a moment or two, Drake just waiting patiently for her to continue. "We were given laws and rules to follow, but at the end of the day we're supposed to help those that can't help themselves, and if we can't do that every time, in every situation, then what's the point?"

She looked over at him again. "I'm guessing you're struggling with the same thing?"

He shrugged. "You could say that. Cynthia and my father are of the mindset that people just expect us to help them, like that's what we were made for, that we don't have lives or hopes and dreams of our own. We're just magical vessels that have to come when we're called."

"And what do you think?"

Now it was his turn to look into his glass. "We have these gifts, these powers, for a reason, and if we don't use them to help then what's the point?"

"Well then here's the question. Are you in this tournament to help people, your friends, or is it something else entirely?"

Puzzled he looked back at her. "Why else would I be here?"

She watched him for a second before shrugging. "Get back at your dad for being an ass. Showing him up, I don't know. Sometimes the right thing to do isn't always… Well, Right. Sorry if that just confused you more."

He shook his head. "No, no, Just talking has helped me quite a bit." They both stood up, Arabella maneuvering herself so that she was standing in front of him. "Thanks for talking with me Ari."

They were inches from each other now, her looking up at him as she bit her bottom lip. "No worries." Before either of them knew it, her lips met his in a tender, yet one sided, kiss. When they finally came apart, their lips were still inches from each other. "What happened to us?"

There it was. "You left."

"But I'm back now."

He slowly shook his head. "But I'm not." Her eyes scanned his face before her head dipped in red embarrassment.

The door to her room opened, forcing both of them apart and looking at who had disturbed them.

Prince Hans sauntered into her room with a bottle of wine and a coy smile. He extended his arms out wide as if expecting some sort of applause, or expecting a grateful hug from Arabella.

"Congratulations to my champion for winning her first trial!" Both knights cringed. He was speaking so loud you'd think he was addressing another arena.

Arabella folded her arms. "What did I say about barging into my room?"

His arms dropped as he stuck out his lower lip. "But I have wine to celebrate." His green eyes bounced from the floor to her face as he scanned her less then dressed figure. A slimy grin spread across his lips. "And I see your all ready for—"

She held up one finger to quiet him. "Don't finish that sentence if you know what's good for you." She made her way to her bed and slid on a pair of pants, Drake watching her with a look that asked if she would be okay. "Don't worry, you know I'm capable of taking care of myself."

He nodded and made his way to the door to excuse himself.

"Drake right?" Hans stopped him with his question. "Champion of Arendelle?" He extended his hand, waiting for Drake to shake it. "Pleasure to meet you."

Drake took his hand, not shy about giving it a firm squeeze. "And your prince Hans?"

His grin seemed to get wider reminding Drake of a fox. "So you've heard all about me?"

Hans grimaced when Drake's grip got tighter. "Just that you tried to kill Elsa and Anna."

He shrugged. "I guess Elsa left out the part where she froze her sister's heart. Sure I left her to die, but I didn't kill her." Drake snorted. He remembered Elsa telling him this story, she just left out the part about a prince wanting them both dead. "May I have my hand back please?" Drake released his hand, noticing Hans was taking great care not to show the fact that it was slightly hurting.

Drake went for the open doors, but Hans wasn't finished. "Good luck with the competition." Drake ignored him, and slammed the doors behind him. He felt uncomfortable leaving Arabella with him, but if anyone could handle herself it was her.

He moved down the hallway towards the moving box, not noticing the man in the black suit leaning against the wall.

"So who's was bigger?" He asked in a thick British accent. Drake turned to face him confused. "Your measuring contest with Hans? Who had the bigger willy?"

Drake narrowed his eyes. "Just marking our territory."

The man shrugged. "No need to explain anything to me," he removed himself from the wall and stepped closer to Drake. "Names Landon—"

"And you're with Hans? Sorry but I've had my fill of 'Hans and friends' today." Drake turned on his heel and headed for the moving box.

"Fair enough." Landon called after him, "Just thought I'd let you know that you're the horse I'm betting on during this tournament."

This caused Drake to pause mid step and cast a glance over his shoulder. "Why? Why me?"

Landon sauntered closer, similar to a lion getting closer to his prey, but Drake wouldn't back away if that's what Landon was hoping_. "Let's just say I'm of the firm belief that your going to be, how should I say this, effectively stupid." Drake raised a brow, unsure if this was an insult or a compliment. "Just thought I'd let you know. Cheers." With that Landon headed down the other end of the hallway to parts unknown.

—:0:—

To her great fortune Elsa had found what appeared to be a large dance hall just a few doors down from her room. Completely clear minus some tables and chairs against the walls, Elsa stomped her foot to cover the tiled ground in ice for one of her favorite relaxing activities.

Ice skating.

Removing her jacket and boots, and in nothing but a unitard, she created ice skates on her bare feet and she and Olaf began skating to their hearts content. For some reason, even though this would be considered her favorite pastime, Elsa wasn't really feeling it today. Maybe it was because of what Cynthia had said about her, or the stress of the tournament, but even one of the things she found joy in, couldn't help.

After another revolution, she took a seat on the floor and settled to watch Olaf "glide and pivot, glide and pivot". She hugged her knees to her chest and put her chin onto her knees, her eyes following him as he skated. The life of a snowman seemed so simple she couldn't help but be envious.

With a boom, the doors flew open causing her to nearly jump out of her skin.

Once she settled down she saw Drake standing there, scanning the room until his gaze fell on her. While she wasn't in the mood for company, she did notice that he seemed pale, and shaky on his knees.

"Drake? Are you okay? You look like you've seen a ghost?"

He gulped. "No i've seen one of those and it didn't disturb me half as much." He wobbly walked to her side and sat down. "After I spoke to Arabella I came back to this floor, but I was so distracted when I went to your room I didn't notice the sock on your door."

Elsa's eyes went as large as dinner plates. She could see where this was going.

"I just let myself in, and when I saw what your sister and Kristoff," he began dry heaving and clamped his eyes shut, "oh god. It's not funny."

Elsa had her hands over her mouth, trying her hardest to hold in her obvious laughter. "I'm sorry," she cleared her throat but laughter still threatened to escape, "What did you do?"

His face fell into a "seriously?" stare. "Pulled up a chair and took out some binoculars WHAT DO YOU THINK I DID?!"

She couldn't hold it anymore. She was laughing so hard she had doubled over with tears hitting the icy ground they sat on. "I'm sorry…. it's… just…."

Drake let his head slump against the wall with a thud. "Thankfully they didn't see me otherwise things would be pretty awkward."

Her laughter slowed. "Well guess what I'm going to see every time I look at them."

His head slumped to the side to glare at her before moving back to its position. "What are you doing in here anyways."

Elsa motioned to the ice she had created. "I was ice skating with Olaf."

Drake looked over the ice at the snowman. "Ice skating? Sliding on top of the ice?"

She looked at him with disbelief. "You don't know about ice skating?"

He shrugged. "Snow and ice aren't big where I'm from."

"You live in the mountains?"

"With Dragons. Any snow melts as soon as it hits the ground, if not sooner."

A sly grin came to her lips. "Well we'll just have to change that now won't we?" She twinkled her fingers creating icy blades onto the souls of his boots.

"I'm sorry what?"

"Ice skating." Without any effort at all she got to her feet and began sliding along the ice. "It's not so hard."

Watching her glide so effortlessly, gave him the courage to at least stand, but that was as far as he could go. His legs started wobbling as they tried to find their balance on the blades.

Once again, she fought the giggles. "It's best to move."

"How can I move when I don't have any balance?"

"You get balance by moving!" She turned around and began skating backwards. "Like this." She skated on one skate. "One, two, three," she switched feet, "one, two, three and so on."

Looking down at his feet he took a few deep breaths to steady his nerves, once his feet stopped wobbling for a second he pushed off the wall, sliding on both feet.

"One… two…. three…."

"Now switch feet."

He pushed slightly with one foot. "One… two...three…." He lowered his foot only for the top of the blade to catch on the ice and send him face first onto the ground. "I figured out how to stop." He muffled.

She slapped her hands over her mouth, in both laughter and shock, then glided to his side. "It's a bit of a knack, but I'm sure you can do it."

He lifted only his head. "Or this is something that isn't for me?"

Olaf, who had been blissfully in his own world until now, slid towards them. "Come on, it's easy."

Just as Elsa had done, Olaf began gliding along the ice with precision and grace. Drake muttered to himself, "Show off."

"Okay. Come on," she grabbed his hands and helped him to his feet. "Just follow my lead." She looked down at his hands in hers, suddenly aware of how small and delicate her fingers were compared to his calloused and battle worn hands. She cleared her throat with a small shake of her head. "Alright. Now follow me."

He swallowed hard, but hesitantly did as she instructed. "One, two, three, one two three…"

—:0:—

His lesson continued into the night, and while not as proficient as the snow queen or her snowman creation, Drake managed to stay on his feet fairly well. Though he wasn't going to admit it, he was even having fun.

So much fun in fact none of them noticed the small doll head peeking at them from the doorway,